Packed into Samsung's 3D TV sets is a laundry list of health warnings cautioning people who are tired, pregnant or intoxicated to be mindful of their usage of the new sets.

Warning labels admonish those who have family histories of epilepsy or strokes that they may be at risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures.

The Samsung warning also lists cautions for women who are pregnant, the elderly and people who don't sleep well.

Viewers also are warned to stop watching if they experience dizziness, involuntary eye or muscle twitching, nausea and disorientation.

Viewers are advised to take breaks after a half hour's viewing which can translate to five breaks a day for the average Hongkonger who watches television for 140 minutes a day according to Synovate's 2009 Media Atlas study.

According to ophthalmologist Pauline Chan, the nausea referred to in the consumer warnings is akin to seasickness or the queasiness that afflicts those who get sick while reading in a moving vehicle.

"Some people are more sensitive than others when focusing on stereoscopic images," she said, referring to the slightly different images used to achieve the 3D effect.

She said straining one's eyes for a prolonged period can cause eye fatigue and tension headaches but added the long warning list was more likely the manufacturers' attempting to cover their bases and protect themselves from liability.

(HK Edition 05/21/2010 page2)