Doc, I Can't See 3-D!

This Sunday, keep an eye out for 3-D commercials. But if you can't see them, it may be time for a checkup

By Brett Zarda Posted 01.29.2009 at 3:50 pm 5 Comments

If you'd been looking through these polarizing glasses, this scene would be jumping out at you

While we wait for the era of live 3-D broadcasts to work out the kinks , we can rejoice at the era of 3-D advertisements. At the end of the second quarter, viewers with the appropriate set of eyewear will be treated to an entire commercial break in 3-D. But what does it mean if, while wearing the trendy glasses, you still can’t see the SoBe lizards dance around or the advertisement for the upcoming 3-D Monsters vs Aliens movie?

First, make sure you’re not wearing the red and blue glasses from 1984. Apparently the new technology won’t make you dizzy if you don’t have the right pair so you could probably trash those at this point. To watch these commercials, you’ll need to pick up a set of free glasses being provided at SoBe water stands throughout the country (125 million have been sent). If you can’t find any you can call 1-800-646-2904 to order a pair (not promising delivery). Side note, you should hold onto the glasses because apparently NBC will broadcast an entire episode of "Chuck" in 3-D next week (not sure it’s that good in 2-D but, bygones . . .).

If you’re certain you’ve got the right set of spectacles don’t go blaming your television set. You don’t need any fancy HD TV. According to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), it’s more likely a function of a vision problem. The college released a press release indicating the broadcast of the 3-D commercials to such a wide audience provides, “a unique opportunity to screen for amblyopia [lazy eye] and other vision problems which make 3-D vision impossible”

"Research has shown that up to 56 percent of those 18 to 38 years of age have one or more problems with binocular vision and therefore could have difficulty seeing 3-D," said COVD President, Dr. Carol Scott, optometrist from Springfield, MO, "and about five to seven percent of children have amblyopia and cannot see 3-D at all."

Now, don’t go blaming your inability to catch a pop fly on a birth defect quite yet but perhaps it’s worth visiting a doctor. If you don’t have the glasses, find a friend that does and put that DVR to good use for a free eye exam.

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