3D Movies send you into a Spin? Here’s Why!

3D glasses3D entertainment has been, for decades, something for kids of all ages. Wearing those (not-so) stylish red and blue glasses meant you were in on a little secret that not everyone got to know. In recent years, we’ve seen the interest in the 3D movies surge. With all the high-definition graphics available today, who could blame Hollywood for making the most of this trend! 3D movies may seem like a big deal. But if sitting through one of these special flicks makes you dizzy and more motion sick that filled with emotion, the effect is totally lost on you. Here’s why . . .

Technicalities

What 3D motion pictures are trying to do is imitate nature. We naturally see in 3-dimensions because of the way our eyes are positioned – a few inches apart. Essentially, this gives us two overlapping perspectives. If you close one eye, you observe the singular perspective of your environment, and if you close the other, you get the second perspective. Together, these two “views” join to create the whole, wonderful 3D world in which you live.

How it Works

The intent of 3D projections is to make the film on the screen come to life in the most authentic way possible (completely manufactured, of course). This is achieved with two-part filming. Two lenses positioned about as far apart as the eyes, capture scenes. When projected onto the screen, the subtle overlap of images makes it impossible to observe the film clearly without special glasses.

If you were taken to a 3D film as a child, you might remember the red and blue plastic lenses well. They looked somewhat ridiculous, but we loved having them on! Many of us tried wearing them outside of the theater, only to find we could not see very well in the real world. Today, 3D lenses are polarized, enabling more color to come through during showings of King Kong battling Godzilla and other flicks.

Why Some People Can’t Tolerate 3D

3D movies are hyped-up, but they are not suitable for everyone. If you have ever felt somewhat dizzy and nausea during one of these technically advanced movies, there’s a reason. Not everyone’s eyes work well together. It’s called binocular vision. This condition is not something that requires treatment; it just means your eyes will probably not adjust as needed to 3D glasses.

Seeing clearly through special spectacles isn’t life-changing, but seeing clearly in your daily life is. To schedule an exam with your Ocala ophthalmologist, call (352) 237-8400.

 

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