Parents Beware!! Nintendo is warning parents that use of their new Nintendo 3DS may not be safe for children under 6 years of age. The company warns that 3D content sends different images to the left and right eyes which could potentially have an impact on the growth of the eyes. Other problems may occur like eye strain and nausea after extended use. Recently, Sony warned of similar issues with it’s Playstation 3.
It is hard to say for sure what type of damage could result from playing 3D gaming consoles at an early age. It is probably safe to say that it will not “ruin” your child’s eyes. However, it may cause unnecessary strain, headaches and possibly an increase in myopia or nearsightedness.
We do know that the visual system is “hard wired” or is in it’s developmental stages up to about the ages of 9 or 10, so reducing strain and fatigue on the eyes is a good thing.
Of course, all of this may just be gaming companies using disclaimers to avoid lawsuits in the future and may pan out to be like the old wives tales of sitting too close to the TV or reading in the dark. Time will tell.
