3D - 2

Does wearing 3D glasses over regular glasses cause headaches?

I wear glasses and whenever I go see a 3D I wear the 3D glasses on top of my regular glasses. Unfortunately, I always get headaches doing that and have a hard time enjoying the film as I would if my eyes could relax. Is it because I'm wearing the 3D glasses over regular ones or is it coincidental? Would I be better off wearing contacts to these movies? Thanks, EyePoker. Unfortunately, they're the new kind of 3D glasses that are bothering me. Maybe I should get contacts.

Public Comments

1. It's probably because you're wearing 3D glasses over your regular glasses. I always used to have this problem with 3D movies, until the new format came out (I think it's "Real 3D or something). I saw Coraline with my glasses under the 3D glasses and it didn't bother me. I always try to remember to wear my contacts though just to make it easier on my eyes, plus its more comfortable without 2 pairs of glasses on.
2. There is an increased risk of headaches for *all*, watching 3D films. The method produces extra stress on binocular coordination, which doesn't show if the eyes have spare binocular capacity, tolerance, but can produce tiredness or discomfort if the binocular lock is marginal (but fine and problem free under normal circumstances) Given the two dissociated images on a cinema screen a phoria (potential misalignment of the eyes, but quite normal) may move from compensated to uncompensated. In more marked cases either double vision or loss of the 3D effect may result. In people wearing or not wearing glasses.
3. I always wear the 3d glasses over my other glasses and it has never bothered me. Imax has larger glasses made to go over perscription glasses but the regular size is fine for me also.
4. I get headaches regardless of whether I wear eyeglasses or contact lenses. I have strabismus and I have trouble with my binocular vision. My right eye has normal vision and my left eye has moderate astigmatism. If I watch a 3D movie, I see two slightly overlapping images and will get nasty headaches. The effects are just less bad when I wear a contact lens in my left eye.