Complete EyeCare Center

3D is making a comeback.  You’ve seen it in movies and heard about it for television.  This March, Nintendo will even introduce a 3D handheld gaming device.  Nintendo will be recommending that children under 6 should not use the device in 3D mode. Why?

If you have trouble perceiving 3D images tell your eye doctor.

Allaboutvision.com thinks the company is likely being cautious because of a lack of research on the effects of long-term 3D viewing on young children’s vision development.  This may be a wise precautionary choice for parents, however the American Optometric Association (AOA) recently released a statement saying it is safe if the child’s visual system is developing normally.  The AOA went on to suggest 3D viewing of movies, TV and the Nintendo 3DS may actually help diagnose subtle vision disorders, like convergence insufficiency, that should be corrected. 

Some people have difficulty aligning their eyes to focus properly, or converging.  It is a vision disorder that often goes undetected.  Interestingly, this insufficiency can be especially noticeable during a 3D viewing experience.  If you or your child has difficulty perceiving the 3D effect, experiences discomfort, or gets dizzy, you should tell Dr. Olson.  An AOA survey suggests that as much as 25% of the population may have difficulty with 3D content, experiencing what is now being called “3D Vision Syndrome.”  Treatment is available, so don’t hesitate to call and schedule an eye health & vision exam.

Sport-specific performance in sunglasses comes down to tint, which should filter enough of the right kind of light to reduce brightness and eyestrain, without filtering out what you actually need to see to perform well.  Our Eyewear Consultants can help determine what lens colors will work best for you.  Here are some general guidelines.

Yellow or Amber: Increases visual acuity, focus, and contrast in low light conditions.

Best for: Road, field, and trail.  Shooting, fishing, tennis, racquetball, handball, indoor basketball.

Gray or green-gray: Cuts glare in bright light conditions, and preserves natural color perception.

Best for: Water and road.  Cycling, all outdoor sports.

Copper or brown: Universal tints that improve depth perception, increase contrast, cut glare on sunny to partly cloudy days, and minimize eyestrain brought on by haze.

Best for: Road, trail, field, and water.  Golf, fishing, baseball, cycling, hunting.

Rose or violet: Makes details pop when light is flat, especially against blue backgrounds.

Best for: Water and snow.

If you want to reflect certain color wavelengths, like screening blue or green for better visibility below the water line when fishing, ask about a mirrored coating instead of a tint. The best way to eliminate reflections and glare is to choose optical quality sunglasses that are polarized.

You’ll find a full range of options in our eyewear gallery.  Be sure to check out Rudy Project and Maui Jim sunwear, which is particularly suited to performance sports.  We can even design a pair of custom sunglasses to meet your specific needs.