The Effect of Virtual Reality Glasses on Your Eyes
Virtual reality is one of the hottest technology trends, and it’s only expected to grow bigger. Thanks to VR technology, you can be transported to an entirely new world without ever leaving your couch. From battlefields and outer space, to deep sea diving, nothing is out of reach with a virtual reality headset. However, what people are not considering is the effect this technology may have on their eyes. We need to be asking whether or not this 3D experience is safe for your vision.
At the moment, we have no long-term research on how virtual reality impacts eyesight. But, there are a few things we do know that could shed light on how you should use virtual reality glasses in the meantime. Let’s explore.
Increased Eye Strain and Fatigue
Anytime you look at a device for an extended period of time, you’re straining your eyes. This happens because you tend to blink less than you normally do, drying out the surface of your eye and causing it to feel fatigued. Even though eye strain is temporary and won’t cause permanent damage, it’s uncomfortable for the time being. Symptoms may even extend to light sensitivity or blurred vision.
Possible Dizziness and Motion Sickness
Some VR users find that when they wear 3D gear, they end up feeling dizzy and sick, similar to motion sickness. These symptoms make sense, considering that the brain receives the same signals when looking at a moving picture as it would if you were actually moving. So, if you’re on a rollercoaster or racing a vehicle on a virtual reality headset, you’re likely to experience motion sickness, just as you would in real life.
Complications with Current Eye Problems
If you have existing eye conditions such as Amblyopia, Strabismus, or any other problems related to depth perception or difficulty focusing, the VR experience can amplify your symptoms. Compared to the average person, you may notice that you experience more headaches and eye strain when wearing VR glasses.
What’s the Verdict? Are Virtual Reality Glasses Safe?
At this time, it appears that wearing virtual reality glasses does not interfere with eye development or eye health. Manufacturers often label their glasses as being not suitable for children under 12 or 13, but this has more to do with the size of the headset and the content that the child may be viewing.
That said, everything is best in moderation. VR gear does have a tendency to cause eye strain and dizziness, so you’re best off limiting the time that you or your child wears the glasses. If you do feel fatigued, be sure to practice one of these eye strain exercises that will relax the eyes in no time!
Quest Pro: Meta's newest VR headset is impressive but here's why you probably won't buy it
CNN Business —
Meta’s newest virtual-reality headset, the Meta Quest Pro, is a slick, powerful device. It can display text and fine details in VR, making it possible to read even small type with ease. It can track your eyes and facial features, giving you a sense of connection with other people in virtual spaces: If you arch your eyebrows or they puff up their cheeks in real life, so too will the VR avatars. And it can be used as a mixed-reality headset, showing you a view of the world around you in color while letting you interact with digital objects — whether you’re painting on an ersatz easel or putting on a faux mini-golf course.
But the black headset, which Meta unveiled on Tuesday during an online event, is probably not in your price range. At $1,500 ($1,499.99, to be precise), it costs nearly four times that of the company’s cheapest Quest 2 headset. Its price, power, and potential are aimed more toward businesses — think architects and designers — with pockets deep enough to shell out for the headset, and some creative and die-hard VR users.
Buyers can pre-order the Quest Pro as of Tuesday, and it will ship out on October 25. It can be purchased online directly from Meta, and in the United States it can also be bought at Best Buy stores, via Best Buy’s website, and through Amazon.
Meta's latest VR headset, the Quest Pro, is aimed at business users and costs $1500. Meta
The capabilities of the Quest Pro mark an important milestone for Meta (and for CEO Mark Zuckerberg), which has spent years and billions of dollars steering toward a future where it believes people will spend more and more time in virtual spaces and mixing digital elements with the real world. The company’s VR unit, Reality Labs, is still tiny compared to its main business of selling ads on Facebook and Instagram, and costly: Meta said it lost $2.8 billion during the second quarter of this year because of Reality Labs.
It’s also a major strategy shift, showing the company is now pushing its best VR technology to business customers, hoping they’ll be eager to use VR and mixed-reality apps at work. It’s a plan that could be lucrative, though it risks alienating its consumer VR business (the company plans, from here on out, to have two Quest product lines and to use the higher-end one to decide which features to add to the less expensive one).
This shift may unnerve companies such as Microsoft and Magic Leap, which have been working for years to convince enterprise users that their pricier mixed-reality headsets represent the future of work. (Microsoft, maker of the mixed-reality HoloLens headset, is apparently hedging its bets by bringing its software to the Quest Pro and Quest 2, in a partnership announced Tuesday at Meta’s Connect event, which focuses on its latest advances in virtual reality and related technologies.)
And it’s not clear whether — or how — this powerful device will help Meta popularize the so-called metaverse, which Zuckerberg believes so strongly in that he rechristened Facebook as Meta in 2021. Meta is the leader in the nascent VR headset market with its consumer-geared Quest 2 headset, but that market is still tiny compared to, say, console gaming.
I spent several hours using the Quest Pro last week at a Meta office near San Francisco, coming away both impressed and flummoxed. It was quickly clear that it’s not intended to be a headset for the masses — a decision that will frustrate some Quest 2 owners waiting for an upgrade to the two-year-old headset. Yet it does offer a glimpse of what VR and mixed-reality experiences may be like in the coming years: better looking, more fun, and increasingly intuitive.
Eye and face tracking
The Quest Pro looks markedly different from the Quest 2, as Meta took the battery out of the main body of the headset, curved it, and moved it behind the wearer’s head. This, plus a dial on the back of the head strap that lets you adjust it precisely (making it much easier for those of us who wear glasses to keep them on in VR), gives it a layout reminiscent of HoloLens 2. The dial also makes it easier to get the headset on and off, especially if you have long hair.
Unfortunately, this new layout may mean that some people find it less comfortable to wear, particularly over an extended period of time. With the increased weight behind my head and just a knob to adjust the single strap around my noggin, I had to keep adjusting it slightly. I wore multiple identical headsets over the course of roughly two hours; after six different demos, ranging from virtual painting to DJing, I left with a headache.
The Quest Pro comes with a charging dock that can power up the headset and controllers. Meta
One of the most noteworthy new features on the Quest Pro is its ability to track the wearer’s eyes and face — something that may make people feel more present when interacting with other avatars in virtual spaces. To do this, the headset uses five infrared sensors to capture details like where you gaze and whether you sneer, smile, frown, or raise an eyebrow. This tracking is turned off by default; Meta also said that it’s processing eye and face images on the headset and then deleting them, and that this will be the case even for developers who add this tracking to their apps.
I tried this new tracking out while playing around with a demo of a green-faced alien character, named Aura, that Meta is making available to developers so they can get a feel for how it works. With the Quest Pro on my head, I could smile, sneer, wink, scrunch up my eyes, wiggle my nose, and so on, while Aura did the same, in real time (unfortunately, there is no tongue tracking). The responsiveness and specificity of Aura’s facial mimicry was impressive, even at this early stage.
This kind of tracking feels like a step in the direction of what Zuckerberg promised was coming after he was widely criticized online in August for a Facebook post featuring an image of his blocky, cartoon-like avatar in Meta’s flagship social app, Horizon Worlds. Upon its release, Quest Pro users will be able to use it in that app and Horizon Workrooms, Meta said, as well as in several developers’ apps such as painting app Painting VR and DJ app Tribe XR.
Updated hand controllers
The headset is also more of a mixed-reality headset than a VR headset, as it isn’t meant to block out all ambient light all the time. This is a big departure from Meta’s past focus on immersive VR, where your physical surroundings were typically more of an obstacle than an asset. Meta is including magnetic light-blocking panels that can pop on to the sides to cut out more light, and starting in late November, it will also sell a $50 accessory meant to fully block out ambient light.
Letting some surrounding light in is part of the company’s effort to make headset wearers feel in touch with their physical surroundings. To build on this, the Quest Pro uses outward-facing cameras on the headset to let you see your surroundings in color (rather than black and white, as on the Quest 2), and continues Meta’s recent push toward getting apps to interact with the real world.
The Quest Pro headset has sensors that can track your eyes and facial expressions. Meta
This was on display during a demo in which I used Painting VR to paint on a virtual canvas, moving around a real-world space set up with a virtual brush and tool stand on one side of the canvas and a shelf of paint cans on the other. I could mix paints, grab brushes, and post my finished (and admittedly awful) painting on the actual wall behind me, all while seeing what was happening around me and getting advice from the app’s creator.
The hand controllers that accompany the Quest Pro will also play an important role in both VR and mixed-reality apps, and they’ve been vastly improved over the ones that come with the Quest 2. Now, rather than relying on the headset to help determine where the controllers are in space, each controller includes three sensors to shoulder the load. This means they can track 360 degrees of motion, which should make for smoother and better hand and arm tracking in all kinds of apps. (Sadly, they won’t track your legs in VR, but Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday that Meta will be using AI to bring full-body avatars into Horizon Worlds sometime in the future.)
A pressure sensor on each controller enables more precise motions than with the current Quest 2 controllers. I tried this out with a demo in which I was able to pick up and toss around a variety of small objects like a teacup, blocks, and a garden gnome. I found that if I picked up the teacup gently, particularly by the handle, I wouldn’t harm it; if I grabbed it, however, I crushed it (I mostly crushed it).
The things the Quest Pro and these controllers can do without connecting to a powerful computer or setting up a slew of external sensors seemed impossibly far away when then-Facebook bought VR headset maker Oculus in 2014. At that time, most people didn’t even consider VR a mass-market technology; eight years and billions of dollars later, we know and expect more. The headset may deliver technologically, but it will be up to Meta’s customers to decide whether it’s worth the price.
What are Virtual Reality Glasses?
Imagine playing games where you’re experiencing the action first-hand. Sounds fun, right? There’s technology today that can give you the feeling of being in a war, at an amusement park, or by the beach with friends. Virtual reality glasses are designed for just this effect, and they are available to consumers at a variety of price points.
How do they work and what uses do they have besides gaming? In this article, you can learn more about this tech trend and tips for making the most of it.
What are virtual reality glasses?
Virtual reality , or VR, is a technology that’s been around in some form for decades. Military organizations, for example, were among the first to use immersive, digital worlds to train and prepare for battle. The tech has since become more accessible to the average consumer, taking a new form in lightweight goggles or headsets that can be purchased in retail stores. The home consumer versions of virtual reality glasses are notably geared toward gamers and those who want a more realistic entertainment experience.
Glasses can fully enclose the face or head, similar to a motorcycle helmet. Most devices, however, just cover the eyes and portions of the ears. Because they transmit sound in addition to light, some will include speakers. Other models have space to insert a separate pair of earbuds. They are usually plastic and come in a variety of colors and designs. Many match the brand or gaming system they are specifically manufactured by
How do virtual reality glasses work?
What makes this product so special? How does it manage to make digital worlds seem so realistic ? Not all devices work the same, but they all have the common approach of using the motion of your head combined with stereoscopic imagery to send images and sounds to your eyes and ears. If done well, your brain can be triggered into thinking that you’re actually in the digital world you’re seeing.
Not all devices are the same and not all of them are sophisticated, however. Some virtual reality glasses are simple, plastic goggles that hold your mobile phone up to your eyes at the proper distance to display a VR app in the most immersive way possible.
Others consist of goggles, a screen, and some processing equipment to deliver another level of tracking and display capabilities. These high-end glasses will need a standalone gaming computer or console with upgraded graphics processors to perform properly. When it comes to VR, you often get what you pay for.
Learning how to use virtual reality glasses is simple. Most games or programs come with instructions on how to use them inside the virtual environment. Even those with no VR experience can start playing in no time. The only skill needed to use them is in the game or application, not in the wearing of the glasses. Just put them on, adjust for comfort, and go.
Tips for using virtual reality glasses
Most glasses will come with instructions for getting started, including how to adjust for the right fit and how to use them safely. Read the setup guide and manufacturer’s documentation fully before starting any virtual reality experience for the first time. These additional guidelines can improve your experience and keep you safe while you play.
Clear obstacles
The glasses are meant to be used in an open area where you can freely move about and perform the functions needed by the game or app. Make sure you have the space to do so. Remove potential hazards and alert others to your play. Pets and children can easily get underfoot without you knowing. It’s safe for everyone to give the VR glasses wearer some room.
Be on alert for motion sickness
Because virtual reality glasses use a balance of field of vision, frame rate, and latency to display a realistic view, it’s best to shop for well-made virtual reality goggles that can handle these complex measurements. If glasses don’t work properly or are ill-fitting, they pose a risk of causing motion sickness for the wearer.
If you begin to feel nauseous or dizzy when wearing them, take off the glasses. Then review the directions for wear and make adjustments before trying again. Keep in mind that some people don’t respond well to even properly fitting glasses.
Give your eyes a break
Just like when using any electronic device, it’s good to take ample breaks to prevent eye strain and fatigue. Those who need prescription glasses to see may find the VR glasses to be challenging to wear. Know how you see when wearing contact lenses vs glasses vs not wearing them at all. If you have questions about your eyes and virtual reality, it’s best to talk to your eye doctor.
Follow age guidelines
Not all glasses are built to fit kids, and small children may not find standard-sized headsets to be comfortable or safe. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for age ranges, as some specifically limit the usage to children over 12 and adults. Help children follow the safety rules for gameplay with headsets that are designed for their age group.
Additional safety tips
Experts also recommend that those who are pregnant, the elderly, or those who have certain health conditions such as balance issues be aware of how virtual reality can affect them. Those with implanted medical devices or who have a history of epilepsy or seizures may not be a good fit for the device, either. As with any video game or immersive electronic experience, stop playing if you experience troubling symptoms.
Shopping for virtual reality glasses
If you’re new to buying this type of tech and are concerned that it may not be for you, we have good news. Many of the top brands of virtual reality allow customers to try before you buy. Shopping in a retail location with a demo unit is the best way to see if you enjoy it. This will tell you if you like the experience but can also give you some ideas for what you like in a VR headset . Fit, size, and certain other specifics, such as whether it’s wired or wireless, can be easily determined in person.
Who uses virtual reality glasses?
Gamers
While we already mentioned that they are popular with serious gamers, VR glasses also have an appeal for the casual gamer and app users. Even kids have become a fast-growing fanbase for the basic VR glasses that use your smartphone to display the graphics. Gaming in an immersive digital environment can be exhilarating, and many users find it easier to concentrate on a game when they have no outside distractions.
Entertainment lovers
Gamers don’t completely dominate the market, however. Movies and other forms of entertainment are making the switch to virtual reality technology. Seeing your favorite big-screen title via virtual glasses may be one of the most widely accepted ways to use them. Even those who don’t game can enjoy the close-up views and realistic sounds that mimic the same in-person experience you’d find in the best theaters.
Government, medical, and business entities
We mentioned the military and security potential with virtual reality, and these groups will continue to pursue VR to capitalize on new tech advances. Business groups are looking at the future of this capability as well. Many use virtual reality to train employees who perform dangerous jobs, such as those in construction or demolition. Physicians prepare for advanced surgical procedures with this tech, too.
Are you next?
From training public service workers to giving customers new advertising experiences, it seems that virtual reality is here to stay and will continue to provide paths for growth in a variety of industries. If you haven’t considered giving it a try, there has never been a better time to do it.
About the Author Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
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