Sony the latest company to warn about its own 3D tech

While it may be years until most consumers own a 3D device, the warnings about what the technology may do to your eyes are coming from every angle. Sony is the latest company to tell us what to avoid, following Nintendo and Samsung.

"Some people may experience discomfort (such as eye strain, eye fatigue or nausea) while watching 3D video images or playing stereoscopic 3D games on 3D televisions," the 3D section of the PlayStation 3 Terms of Service reads. "If you experience such discomfort, you should immediately discontinue use of your television until the discomfort subsides." The other paragraphs consist of standard warnings: if your eyes hurt, stop playing until they stop hurting. Ask your doctor about younger children using 3D devices.

Reggie Fils-Aime, the President and COO of Nintendo of America, issued a similar warning when talking to Kotaku. "We will recommend that very young children not look at 3D images," he said. "That's because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed... This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol. We have the same type of messaging for the Virtual Boy, as an example."

Just to make sure we hit all the notes, Samsung also warns consumers about its 3D televisions. "We do not recommend watching 3D if you are in bad physical condition, need sleep or have been drinking alcohol," one section says. "Watching TV while sitting too close to the screen for an extended period of time may damage your eyesight. The ideal viewing distance should be at least three times the height of the TV screen. It is recommended that the viewer's eyes are level with the screen."

This is standard legal language, designed to cover the rear end of the company in the most expansive manner just in case someone gets dizzy from watching Alice in Wonderland in 3D and falls down his or her stairs. At this stage in the game, it's unknown what, if any, long-term damage daily doses of 3D will do to our eyes, but everyone in the market wants us to be careful.