AAO: Headache, tired eyes with 3-D games may indicate eye disorder

San Francisco-Healthy children who consistently develop headaches or tired eyes or cannot clearly see images when playing 3-D games on handheld digital products may have a vision or eye disorder, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). “If such problems occur, the [AAO] recommends that the child be given a comprehensive exam by an ophthalmologist,” the organization said in a statement.

Children with amblyopia, strabismus, or other conditions that persistently inhibit focusing, depth perception, or normal 3-D vision will find it difficult to see digital 3-D images when playing games on handheld devices and may be more likely to experience headaches and/or eye fatigue when viewing the 3-D digital images, according to the AAO. These symptoms do not mean that 3-D digital products cause vision disorders, the statement said.

Several 3-D game device manufacturers have warned parents to prevent children aged less than 6 years from prolonged viewing of a device’s digital images to avoid possible damage to visual development.

Conclusive studies on the short- and/or long-term effects of 3-D digital products on eye and visual development, health, or function in children do not exist, nor do persuasive, conclusive theories on how 3-D digital products could cause damage in children with healthy eyes, according to the AAO.