Measuring visual fatigue and visual discomfort associated with 3‐D displays

Abstract

Abstract— This research identifies methods for signs of visual complaints associated with stereoscopic displays. Two potential causes for contradictory results concerning these signs in previous research are hypothesized: (1) not all clinical tests are equally appropriate and (2) there is a natural variation in susceptibility amongst people with normal vision. An optometric screening differentiated participants with moderate binocular status (MBS) from those with good binocular status (GBS). In a 2 × 2 within‐subjects design (2‐D vs. 3‐D and MBS vs. GBS), a questionnaire and eight optometric tests (i.e., binocular acuity, aligning prism, fixation disparity, heterophoria, convergent and divergent fusional reserves, vergence facility, and accommodation response) were each administered before and immediately after a reading task. Results revealed that only participants with MBS in 3‐D conditions showed clinically meaningful changes in fusion range, experienced more visual discomfort, and performed worse on the reading task. Acombination of fusion range measurements and self‐report is appropriate for evaluating visual complaints of stereoscopic stills, and people with a MBS are more susceptible to visual complaints associated with stereoscopic displays. A simple measurement tool, i.e., the ratio of reading performance between 2‐D and 3‐D, to categorize people based on their binocular status is proposed.

Dynamic accommodative response to different visual stimuli (2D vs 3D) while watching television and while playing Nintendo 3DS Console

“…Previous studies have shown that people with binocular dysfunction may be more susceptible to having symptoms associated with viewing 3D contents. 22,23 Mainos 24 reported that accommodative and vergence dysfunctions can lead to the manifestation of symptoms in users when watching 3D contents and that the improvement in binocular vision by visual therapy may reduce its manifestation. Kim et al, 25 demonstrated that the use of binocular vision corrective spectacles can reduce the manifestation of symptoms when viewing 3D contents.…”

Luminance effects influencing perception of 3‐D TV imagery

“…23,24 It is simple to identify observers by implementing the subjective evaluation that are particularly sensitive to visual fatigue. 25 Several methods for subjective evaluation of visual discomfort have been tested. 26 The questionnaires consist of questions with a self-rated score concerning subjective symptoms of fatigue.…”

“…28 Many viewers felt dizzy, even close to death, after watching 3-D movies. 22,25,28 Therefore, this study included the psychophysical and physiological reaction measurement while watching stereo images and films. A flicker fusion apparatus and an autonomic nervous system (ANS) watch were used in this research.…”

Investigating visual discomfort with 3D displays

“…However, notwithstanding this worldwide success, the potential drawbacks of such a new technology cannot be ignored. One of the major problems encountered by viewers is visual discomfort [2][3][4][5][6], which can be framed it in the wider concept of asthenopia, or "weak eye" [8]. Asthenopia is a macrocategory encompassing several symptoms that can be assessed through subjective and objective methods [2] (Fig.…”