Problems with 3D Vision

[kathyell]

I have a lovely friend who has always wanted to go to WDW but has been too intimidated by all of the details of planning the trip that she's never taken the plunge. We have scheduled a trip later this year on my family's DVC points and she and her husband will be accompanying us, as we'll be there to show them the ropes. So that part is a big YAY.

The not-so-yay is that, due to a vision problem, she is unable to view anything in 3D. I believe the specific issue in her case is commonly referred to as a "lazy eye", and this condition means that her eyes cannot put together the stereo images provided through 3D glasses into a 3D image in her brain.

Has anyone here ever had this problem or been to WDW with someone with this problem? Is there anything Disney was able to do to accommodate the issue, or did you just avoid the 3D attractions. (It's a shame if that's the case, as I know she would LOVE TSM and Philharmagic if she was able to view them somehow.)

She has said that if there was some sort of screen that performed the function of the 3D glasses that was further out, something around arm's length, she's been told in the past that something like that would work. (Perhaps it has something to do with the focal distance of her eyes?)

I did a search on this forum for "3D" and came up blank, but I'm hoping someone may have gone down this path already and may know if there's anything Disney can do to accommodate us.

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest getting an eye patch and covering the weaker eye when going to any 3d movie or attraction. She will still need to put on the 3D glasses so it will fileter out the secondary image. That way she will still be able to see clearly, just not get the 3D effects.

 

[MightyMom]

The medical term for her isssue is called strabismus.

My DS10 has severe corrected strabismus. He's had 4 eye surgeries to correct the issue and wears glasses.

He has failed EVERY single 3D test at this ophthalmologists office in the last 10 years. The doctor said his brain never learned to use his eyes together. In other words, he does not have binocular vision.

In order to see 3D you must have binocular vision.

By some miracle... my son has been able to see 3D shows at WDW. You should have seen me sobbing like a baby when he was watching Philharmagic for the first time and was reaching for the jewels as they "came out" of the screen.

The doc told me that there is a difference between "gross" and "fine" eye motor and that explains why he was able to see the 3D shows at WDW but can never pass a 3D test in the doctors office. My son says it's because there is magic at WDW.... and I have to agree.

I don't know.... I don't really care why it happened. lol It happened!!

I think the trick is that you don't have to wear the two colored lenses. but instead they use the monotone "magic" glasses.

I say your friend should just try it out...... won't hurt.

 

[kathyell]

Thank you so much, CheshireFigment and MightyMom, for your replies. The eyepatch idea is a good one and we'll have one with us in case the attractions don't just "work" with her they way they did with MightyMom's son.

And MightyMom, that is just a beautiful story. I'm so glad your son had such a wonderful experience at Philharmagic.

Thank you both again for your help!

 

[seashoreCM]

Just my two cents' worth, possibly off topic too.

Regarding "lazy eye", try covering the stronger eye, both during the 3D movie and for an hour or so every now and then during ordinary activities. This is to prevent the weaker eye (and brain connection) from getting weaker still, I think the term for the weakening is "atrophy".

There are novelty drawings and pictures which to most people mean nothing. When stared at for a long time, they become 3D images. Perhaps some folks with strabismus may in the unhurried environment back at home be able to spend a long time and hold the picture at different distances from the eyes and lock on to the 3D effect and even get the eyes trained to see 3D.

If you forgot to bring an eye patch, simply covering one eye with your hand will work.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to a past thread about 3D movies and monocular (one eye)vision.

It includes more experiences and an explanation of why the Disney 3D may work when regular 3D doesn't.

 

[kathyell]

Thanks for the input, seashoreCM and Sue M in MN. I have no idea why that other thread didn't come up when I searched for "3D" in this forum, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it.

 

[kimmylaj]

i have the same problem and cant see old fashioned 3d but have no problem with 3d at disney. i see it in 3d but have gotten a headache one time. it resolved right after i left

 

[clanmcculloch]

My 9 year old used to HATE all the 3D shows because of her eyes not working together correctly (she had a few different visual issues). She's since been through Vision Therapy which corrected these problems and now she loves the shows. Just something else to look into (not specifically because of the 3D shows, but rather as an option for the overall vision problem).

 

[persimmondeb]

I don't have binocular vision, and I usually avoid them, although I will probably give the muppets a try this time. I would not go to a movie I had to pay for in 3D, but I'll try things that are short (and don't cost extra).

I usually find that if I really concentrate on using both eyes I can kind of get it to work, but it will give me a headache after a while. However, I probably do use the weaker eye sometimes, just not usually at the same time as the other one.