A grey area surrounding the potential eye health issues caused by viewing 3D looks set to create increased confusion for customers and practitioners as the format grows in popularity.
Clinical guidance for 3D eyewear cannot be issued by the General Optical Council (GOC) until the release of prescription 3D glasses later this year according to a Council spokesperson.
Despite concerns from the optical industry that no guidance exists for issues such as the sale of 3D glasses to those with reduced binocular vision who will receive no 3D effect, the GOC said non-prescription glasses did not fall under its remit.
The spokesperson explained that non-prescription 3D glasses were not considered optical appliances under the Opticians Act or Sale of Optical Appliances Order.
However, Dharmesh Patel, chairman of the Eyecare Trust, added weight to the calls for advice for practitioners on the sale of all 3D eyewear: 'With a quarter of all UK households predicted to own a 3D TV by 2015 it's vital that people have access to clear advice and information on eye health issues linked to viewing 3D. A set of clinical guidelines would help practitioners meet the needs of the viewing public as they make the transition from 2 to 3D TV.'
Optician clinical editor Bill Harvey has also highlighted concerns over the issue, stating that it was essential for practitioners to be able to identify patients who would not be able to achieve the 3D view due to reduced binocular vision (News 17.12.10).
Non-prescription 3D eyewear is already available for sale to the public in the UK and prescription 3D eyewear, to be sold through optical outlets, has been announced by Marchon (News 23.07.10). A Marchon spokesperson told Optician that the company intended to release its prescription 3D glasses at some point this year. Oakley informed Optician that it was also working on producing prescription 3D eyewear.