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Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters
The most common gripes among moviegoers watching 3-D movies were that their eyes felt tired or they had a headache. But nearly 11 percent felt like they wanted to puke.
If you found yourself feeling a little woozy while watching 3-D films like "Avatar" or "Tron," you won't be surprised to hear this. More than half the people who put on the special glasses and caught a showing of a 3-D flick reported the movie made them feel sick to some degree, a new study suggests.
Roughly 55 percent of viewers had at least one physical complaint after the experience, according to research recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.
The most common gripes among moviegoers were that their eyes felt tired or they had a headache. But nearly 11 percent felt like they wanted to puke.
"I was surprised by the relatively high proportion of people who reported symptoms after a 3-D movie," said study author Angelo Solimini, Ph.D, an adjunct professor and research scientist in hygiene and public health at Sapienza University of Rome.
But there's no reason to shy away from a showing of movies like "Up" or the soon-to-be-released "Oz: The Great and Powerful." Solimini pointed out that viewer's symptoms were usually mild and seemed to disappear as soon as they took off their 3-D glasses -- except, perhaps if it triggered a headache.
Although Solimini has only seen one 3-D movie, "Despicable Me," he got the idea for this study after chatting with a group of parents. After taking their children to see a 3-D film, many of the mothers complained of physical discomforts, but their kids did not.
To look into these side effects, he rounded up 497 healthy adults in Italy, ages 18 to 65. Participants were asked to see one 2-D movie and one 3-D film during a three-week period. They could choose whichever movies they wanted as long as they didn't see the 2-D and 3-D flick on the same day.
Before and after seeing each flick, participants completed questionnaires about their movie-going experience, in which they rated their symptoms in three main areas: nausea, vision problems and dizziness.
Close to 55 percent of the viewers of the 3-D flick reported some level of sickness following the film compared to only 14% of those watching a 2-D film.
Nearly half of the 3-D viewers complained that the film hurt their eyes. It strained their eyes, blurred their vision, or made it hard to focus.
Slightly more than one in five 3-D moviegoers felt somewhat disoriented at the theater. They had a headache, or felt off-balance or dizzy, whether their eyes were open or shut.
About one in 10 3-D film attendees felt queasy during the show.
Some individuals were more prone to these unpleasant feelings than others. The study found that women, especially those with a history of car sickness, vertigo, or frequent headache, may be more vulnerable to these symptoms.
As for why some people find it harder to handle 3-D movies than others do, Solimini suggests it's because the distance at which our eyes converge is different from where they focus. This mismatch causes extra work for the visual system that for some individuals may result in these annoying side effects.
The most susceptible people, he explains, are those with unequal vision in both eyes or those with small vision misalignments.
Solimini draws an analogy between seeing a 3-D film and riding a roller coaster. Both are forms of entertainment in which some people may be willing to put up with an increase in symptoms and mild -- but temporary -- discomfort as part of the experience.
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I really, really, dislike 3D films and gave up going to them altogether. It's mainly about wearing the glasses for more than two hours. I already wear glasses.
The "glasses" annoy me, never fit very well (on account they are made mostly of paper), and after 20 minutes it feels as if my eyes have been crossed for hours.
Oddly enough, if I put the magic glasses on upside down...it doesn't hurt my eyes.
Actually, most of the 3D glasses, the ones in the movie theater anyway, are made out of plastic, not paper.
There's no reason not to see these movies? Try intense migraine. There is no way I will go to any movie shot in 3D. You couldn't pay me to go through that torture, and then spend a day under pain meds. They came out with 3D in the 60s, it sucked then, it sucks now. I don't care how much they hype it, for me and for many others it's a NO GO! Their only reason for insisting on grinding out that crap is so they can charge more. I'll wait for the DVD.
The glasses wouldn't be so bad if there was no nausea afterwards. 3D movies give me a huge headache and just feel awful for the rest of the day. Even my kids get headaches from 3D movies. And we have to pay extra for the privilege? No thanks!
I bought clip ones for abouyt $3 from an online supplier, the difference was 1000% better for me. I've never had a problem watching with passive glasses, but the active shutters, damn I get vertigo from them in about 30 seconds I just can't wear them.
I must be an odd-ball. I have only been to a couple 3D movies (too expensive for the whole family), but I will say that I was very impressed with the quality of the 3D effect. It was clear, but could have been brighter. But I never have felt the slightest bit dizzy during of after. I can't wait until I can afford a go 3D TV and some good movie for it. I say bring on the 3D, but make it good and make it cheap!
I Love 3D movies. I have a 3D TV and watch 3D content almost daily with none of the listed side effects. I've heard all the negative things about 3D but I can't confirm anything other than the cost. I do NOT like the shutter type glasses used with some systems. I like the passive style, they are a lot cheaper and produce the same 3D as you see in theatre's and after the movie you can take them home for use with your home entertainment system. I've heard they have a glasses free 3D in the works but it will be expensive, will have to wait and see.
3D will never truly take off commercially until they can go glasses-free. A large part of our population (especially older folks, but not only) wear glasses and it's difficult and uncomfortable (if not impossible) to wear 3D glasses AND prescription glasses at the same time.
I'm 35, I've worn glasses since I was a kid (for nearsightedness and astigmatism) and the only time I've tried 3D was the Captain EO show at Disneyland... and it wasn't enjoyed at all, simply because I had so many problems trying to wear the 3D glasses over my regular ones.
I have seen a Samsung TV that doesn't require glasses. I saw it last year at HH Gregg and it wasn't very expensive either.
I have lazy eye - one eye has uncorrectable 20/400 vision. That means I don't have stereo vision. 3D movies give me headaches because the glasses try to make my bad eye work. Maybe I should sue the MPAA!
3D movies cause eye fatigue, plain and simple. I saw an ancient analog 3D movie years ago, it was 10 times better than the digital nonsense out there today.
I hate 3D movies. I wouldn't pay regular price to see one and certainly not a premium price. Personally I think it's a gimmick for kids - adults I know seem to have little or no interest in 3D.
Prone to motion sickness since I was a kid. Sometimes the new flat screen TV's make me feel queasy. No way am I going to go to a 3D movie.
That guy - "oh even if you feel sick that's no reason not to go, you'll feel better after it stops" WTF Pretty stupid advice if you ask me.
Same thing for me. 3D movies make me nauseous, and it lasts for a while once I leave the theater. Watching my kids play a fast action game on the flat screen sometimes triggers this response as well. I'm quite happy to see 2D movies, and happier yet to not pay the 3D price.
I've suffered from intense motion sickness since I was a baby and 3D movies are a nightmare for me. I'll take my kids to them but spend about half of each movie with my eyes shut so that I don't projectile vomit all over the people seated in front of me.
I always get a migraine that lasts for hours after the movie...I went to the Hobbit thinking it was good ole 2D...nope it was 3D went anyway cause the kids wanted to see it really bad...so stayed in bed for the rest of the day...good times. ok end sarcasm.
I tried the 3D glasses in Best Buy and found them annoying. The 3D movie thing is as much of a stupid fad now as it was in the 1950's. If you have a good story to tell you don't need to pimp it up with cheap special effects.
My husband and I drove separately to a 3D movie. When we got home, I learned he experienced a migraine with auras. That was dangerous for him and for others. It didn't start until he was on the road. Now that we know it affects him that way, I'll be doing the driving if/when we go to a 3D movie.
Why would your husband subject himself to that again???
Another question I'd have is whether or not people can even see the 3D effects. My wife can't tell any difference between 2D and 3D films -- it just doesn't work for her.
I never used to have issues with movies, but it's not surprising why so many people would have issues. You have the combination of being seated in a very dark movie theater with a brilliantly contrasted screen lighting up the place, very loud sounds and music, and a screen which takes up 90% of your view; so why all these studies on why people feel ill when it's pretty obvious what's causing it... Any 3D movies I saw I enjoyed and didn't have a problem with, but now any movie I see gives me a splitting headache, and those are 2D. I figure the reasons are the ones I've said above, but I'm sure dehydration doesn't help. It always pays to hide a water bottle in your purse.
This "revelation" should come as no surprise! Just ask you're old grand dad about his experience way back in the 1950's. As today, splitting headaches abounded then!
This present 3D experience is just the same gimmick revisited, one identical to that foisted on that earlier generation.
Advice: Boycott these 3D movies and let them die a quick but pain filled death!
The biggest problem is FRAME RATE...Most 3D movies are STILL displayed
at 24 frames per second per eye...which is WAY TOO LOW... I was fortunate
to see an older high frame rate film format in the 1980's called ShowScan which
has OUTSTANDING QUALITY! That was more than 25 years ago and i'm STILL
having to watch 1080p HDTV 24fps in 2013?
What I am currently doing in my line of work are tests at 120 frames per second
using high end computers and specialty computer monitors that can handle the
data rate of 1920 by 1080 pixels at 32 bits per pixels x 120 frames per second
on three ultra-wide angle viewscreens ...OR... using a full EIGHT screens for full
360 degree SURROUND VIEW.
The image quality when using ultra high end cameras that can RECORD 120 fps
at full HDTV is UTTERLY STUNNING...no headaches, no flicker, no problems.
the ONLY issue I personally have with the system is that it's STILL HDTV 1080p
and not 4k (i.e. 4000+ by 2000+ pixels) resolution which would REALLY make
our stuff jump out.
Again low frame rate is the problem...it needs to get bumped up to 120 fps
since MOST PEOPLE can still see flicker up to 72 frames per second and
YOUNG people with excellent (i.e. perfect) vision have been able to see
flicker and refresh issues at up to 110 fps...SO 120 fps is a good compromise.
I have disliked 3D movies since they came out. Usually I can't tell a big difference in terms of "experience" and the glasses annoy the heck out of me. I would never pay more for a 3D movie with such little bang for my buck. Thankfully even my children are realizing it's a silly fad and don't even want to go see them. Anyway, they spent more time laughing at each other wearing these silly glasses and taking them on and off than they did watching the movie.
I couldn't agree more, if you have a compelling movie, you don't need silly 3D to make it sell
My biggest complaint about 3D movies is that it is detracting from the quality of the 2D movies. That is, because the directors choose shooting angles and such that emphasize the 3D effect, it impacts the 2D experience for the same move. Avatar, which many raved about, had terrible scenes where trees and bushes and stuff were totally in the way for the 2D version--where in the 3D version I expect they appeared naturally spaced in front of the characters they were covering and seemed a bit more natural. 3D can't die quickly enough for me, even if they ever make it glassless. The directors won't be satisfied to let the 3D occur naturally--look at what's happened with sound, with THX and so on that totally violate the physics of sound in order to impress the audience with something fake and contrived. Call me a Luddite, but stereo and high def video are sufficient for me.
I always take a dose of migraine medication before I see a 3-D movie. Saw Monsters Vs. Aliens and it gave me a nauseating migraine that lasted 3 days. I usually try to get the kids to see movies not in 3-D format but sometimes I have to give in.
I've been to several 3D movies in the past few years, sometimes I get a headache, sometimes not. I think it has to do more with the quality and use of the 3D than the 3D itself. In movies where it is used as a pop-out-of-the-screen gimmick, I tend to get headaches. But, where it is used well, in situations where it provides depth to the image instead of a gimmick - no headaches. The better it is utilized and understated, the easier I can deal with it.
3D movies are too expensive. I dont think they add anything to the movie and unless you sit clear in the back of the theatre it is hard on your eyes. If I have to sit close then my head hurts and it makes my eyes tired.
I have seen at least 10 or more 3D movies and have watched 3D TV at my neighbor's, never had any issues with headaches or anything. My daughter has been to 3D movies as well (I think 3 or so) and never had any issues either.
All you people saying 3-D is a fad sound a lot like Charlie Chaplin when he said talkies were just a fad. And then they said color movies (and photographs) were just a fad. I LOVED 3-d when I was a kid - I saw the original black and white "13 Ghosts" and I know I didn't have any problems. However, when I went to Imax for a 3-D movie a few years ago, I loved the 3-D but not so much the nausea I started to feel. My eyes started feeling gimpy, then a headache and the headache was so bad I felt sick to my stomach. I am SO disappointed. I can see the 3-D effect so well I was putting my hand up to catch some "bubbles" that came floating toward me. They will perfect 3-D someday...just needs a little more work.
fad
/fad/
Noun
An intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, esp. one that is short-lived; a craze.
---
3D movies sure meet the criteria. Especially something that was tried, flopped, and is poised to flop again.
All 3D glasses hurt. They don't fit. If you wear glasses, you have to put them under the 3D glasses, so the 3D glasses slip. It's also hard to focus with the 3D glasses so far from your eyes. AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF DUCKING, YOU PAY MORE.
THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY!
3-D Movies suck...A lot of people say its the next big thing and it will get better....they said that years ago and 3-D still sucks....until the people jump out of the screen like the Star Trek Holograms....thats when I buy...maybe
I'm convinced the motion sickness feeling is related to age and our inability to manage equalibrium as well as we did when younger. Modern first person shooter and similar games tend to leave me with a quesy feeling, so I am not able to enjoy them. Amusement park rides aren't as much fun as they once were either. I'd be interested to see the survey results plotted on an age curve and confirm a correlation between age and discomfort.
Those are otherwise known as the people who DON'T watch 3D movies. Plenty of people love them and don't have medical problems, and those are the people who keep coming back.