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Apple Details Using Vision Pro With Certain Medical Conditions

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In a support document published online today, Apple detailed using its Vision Pro headset with certain medical conditions.

Apple-WWCD23-Vision-Pro-EyeSight-230605.jpg

Apple says customers with pre-existing medical conditions should consult with a healthcare provider before using the Vision Pro, as using the headset could "aggravate symptoms or increase the risk of injury or discomfort."

Apple says these medical conditions include:

  • Heart conditions
  • Migraines or chronic headaches
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Eye or vision conditions, such as binocular vision conditions
  • Psychological conditions
  • Inner ear conditions
  • History of dry eyes, itchiness, or swelling of the eyelids
  • Skin allergies or sensitivities
  • Seizures
  • Balance or gait conditions
Apple adds that pregnant individuals should exercise additional caution when using the Vision Pro due to an increased risk of nausea or loss of balance.

"If your medical provider confirmed that it's safe for you to use Apple Vision Pro, use the device seated and start with a less immersive experience," says Apple. "Use the device over short increments of time and take frequent breaks."

Apple also warns that the Vision Pro and its battery pack could interfere with nearby electronics, including cardiac pacemakers, hearing aids, and defibrillators.

"If you have a pacemaker or other implanted medical device, consult a medical provider or the manufacturer of your medical device before using Apple Vision Pro," says Apple. The headset and battery should be kept at a safe distance from these medical devices.

Apple says customers should stop using the Vision Pro if they experience symptoms related to a medical condition or skin reactions.

For more details, read Apple's support document.

The information above is presented for reference only, and it does not substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Article Link: Apple Details Using Vision Pro With Certain Medical Conditions
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/19/vision-pro-medical-conditions/
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It's like 3D glasses watching movies all over again.
The polarization of 3D glasses filters light to each eye differently. This asks the muscles of each of your eyes to work separately, rather than in coordination with one another. Your eye muscles can begin to feel strained, causing headaches, dizziness, and nausea. These effects are usually temporary and can be averted by looking away from the screen for a few seconds.
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Most of those are in the same general category of any other VR headset, or really most things with screens--if you suffer from migraines, having screens and graphics filling your entire field of vision may exacerbate or trigger them; if you have balance problems, VR is probably going to make you more unstable while you're wearing it; if you're prone to seizures, flashing lights in the display might trigger them; all very standard stuff.

Real problems if you have those conditions, but nothing the least bit surprising, and for most of us who suffer from one of those ailments (migraines in my case) you pretty much know what to expect going in. I'm certainly not putting a VR or AR headset on when I'm trying to shake a migraine, but then I'm also not looking at my phone or computer screen, because those make it worse too.

The one that is more broadly applicable is the "binocular vision conditions" item, which is linked to this separate support page. That page lists the limits to the strength of reading glasses inserts Zeiss will make for it, tells you what kinds of contacts will and probably won't work, and provides a link to a Zeiss page where you can punch in your glasses prescription and see if they will make inserts for you.

If you have an unusual prescription in some way, it's certainly worth punching it in there to see whether it's supported.

There might be extreme prescriptions for very severe nearsightedness that they won't or can't do, but the big one (for me and my SO at least) is prism; Zeiss won't make inserts, period, if you have any prism in your prescription, so you can't use the Vision Pro, period.

Every other condition is a "be careful about this and maybe talk to your doctor," but ultimately up to the user; having any prism correction in your glasses is a "You cannot use this device, and we won't even sell it to you." deal-breaker.

There may be a very good optical reason why it's not technically possible for eye tracking to work with prism, it may be a case of getting it to most people now and dealing with the outliers in some future iteration, or it may just be Zeiss or Apple saying "Eh, we can sell as many as we can make anyway, file them in the same category of 'this is not for you' as blind people." Whatever the reason, I'm bummed about not being able to even test drive one, let alone buy it.

But I'm more annoyed that Apple didn't just come out and say that in the fine print somewhere before preorders started, so I didn't get up at 5am to find out something they already knew and had hidden behind "most prescriptions are supported." Keeping the "surprise" of pricing details, options, and accessories hidden until pre-order launch is one thing; having the surprise be that you can't buy it because of your prescription when they could have just said "prescriptions with prism are not supported," that's kind of insulting.
 
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This is why I think VR/AR will never be a mainstream thing. Just too many restrictions, not to mention covering half your face.

It's about time Apple could finally start doing something about PWM on iPhones. So much bs around health when they talk about the Apple Watch, but the fact that thousands of people aren't comfortable looking at the iPhone display, no one cares. Maybe when they run out of ideas on what new features to add, they'll make a big deal out of it. Anyway, for now I can use the iPhone SE. At least I've saved money in the 6 years of OLED iPhones.
 
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By the title I thought this was going a different direction on how it can help certain medical conditions. I like that they're being proactive about the medical limitations.

I'm hoping by Vision 2 there are apps to help strengthen lazy eyes. Would love to fix my lazy eye without surgery, or at the very least compliment the surgery with eye exercises.
 
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DavidLeblond said:
Not that I was going to spend $3500, but that would be me right there. (have a condition which makes it so I have no depth perception)
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I am familiar with that.
Binocular diplopia refers to double vision due to misalignment of the eyes, often caused by weakness or restricted movement of the muscles surrounding the eye (i.e., extraocular muscles ). Binocular diplopia occurs when both eyes are open, so it can resolve when one eye is covered or closed.
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It can also occur on varying focal distances your eyes adjust to. Usually caused by your cranial nerve being temporary traumatized, causing a misalignment when both eyes try to determine depth perception. Surgery cannot correct anything more then a single focal distance. Anyone starting to have binocular diplopia should immediate quit using the device causing that, and see an ophthalmologist for prisms to be use to train your eyes back into alignment after muscle traumatization.
 
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