Groundbreaking 3D Vision Eye Clinic Opens Thursday

Do 3D movies give you headaches?

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It turns out those glasses might not be the problem themselves, but could point toward a diagnosis. To test that theory, THX, which certifies 3D displays as well as sound systems, is joining with Pacific University’s College of Optometry to open a new clinic Thursday in Beaverton, Ore. It is designed to serve as a research facility while also offering walk-in services to treat eye coordination problems.

According to the American Optometric Assn., between 3 million-9 million people have problems with their binocular vision and are unable to align and focus both eyes accurately. Although many compensate by relying on one eye more than the other, watching a 3D movie can result in discomfort and dizziness. In fact, it brings the underlying problem into focus.

THX provided $40,000 worth of equipment to get the new 3D Vision Performance Eye Clinic up and running. The facility will offer binocular and stereopsis vision testing for children and adults, develop further tests and share its research with the entertainment and consumer electronics industries so that they better understand the human response to 3D products.

"During the initial rollout of 3D, there has been a lot of misleading statements around the safety and health issues around 3D have been made, most of which has had no clinical proof to the negative claims," Rick Dean, THX senior vip and chair of the 3D@Home Consortium, told The Hollywood Reporter. "(Pacific University is) providing clinical research by establishing a facility to provide eye care with a focus on stereo vision issues which has not been diagnosed in the past. Results will contribute to all aspects of 3D entertainment, but also to the use of 3D in education, and a variety of commercial applications."

The equipment THX contributed  includes a JVC 3D video projector and LG 50-inch 3D flat panel display. Additional participants include Intel and Nike.

AOA and 3D@Home Consortium, which are supporting the clinic, also have released a report titled “3D in the Classroom: See Well, Learn Well.”