If you've recently purchased, or are considering buying, a new 3D TV, you should know that Samsung has warned that children and teenagers may have a heightened risk for seizures or strokes when watching 3D TV. The company posted the alert on its Australian site, but we haven't seen a comparable warning for the U.S.
The risk is greater if your family has a history epilepsy or strokes. Consult a doctor prior to viewing 3D images, and then monitor kids closely. Besides more serious issues, 3D TV viewing can cause headache, dizziness, motion sickness, disorientation and eye strain. Taking frequent breaks can minimize the chance of such problems. It would be a good idea to watch 3D in a theater a few times to see if anyone in your family has any issues before buying a new set.
The danger of photo-sensitive seizures, which can be triggered by flashing images or lights, isn't new. The video game industry went through something similar a number of years ago, and games now include a warning on packages.
The company also says to avoid sitting too close to the TV, with the ideal viewing distance being at least three times the screen height. That would be about 7 or 8 feet from a 50-inch set. One final warning: don't wear the 3D glasses for any other purpose than for viewing 3D television.
Check out our Health blog for other potential issues about viewing 3D.
—James Willcox
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