Now here's something that will surprise both gamers and parents alike. The American Optometric Association has just declared that the Nintendo 3DS can actually be useful in identifying a certain vision disorder in kids. That's right, dear techies. The 3D-playin' next-gen handheld console from the big N isn't only good for providing 2 additional dimensions of gaming bliss, but for medical diagnoses as well.
The thing is, if your kid is using the 3DS but sadly cannot see the 3D effect, then chances are your little one could be suffering from amblyopia--or more commonly known as lazy eye. It's a condition wherein one or both eyes have reduced vision that cannot be corrected by eyeglasses. The good thing is, it's easier to treat the condition at a younger age. This is where the 3DS comes in, which we're pretty sure will have its fair share of very young patrons despite being given the "not for kids under 6" tag.
Michael Duenas of the American Optometric Association said that only 15% of pre-school aged children undergo tests that can detect lazy eye so something like the 3DS which kids will love can be beneficial. He even went as far as saying that the 3DS "could be a godsend for identifying kids under six who need vision therapy,". However, another group, the opthalmologists (who are, by the way, medical doctors), aren't too keen to jump to conclusions with one of its members, David Hunter, saying that it's "all sort of exploration and speculations".
Say what you will be we think parents would rather take their kids to a clinic or hospital than pay for a $250 (about P10,900) "eye exam" that only detects one kind of eye problem.
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