It’s almost three years ago since i tested covering one eye, and understood that it can be a way forward. That was the start of a journey from old devices (iPhone 4S/iOS7 & 2009 HP Elitebook/Win7) to today, now i can use all devices and screens with both eyes open 🙂 I have gotten many questions on this forum about my training, in threads and PM, and I have tried to answer as good that i can. I have crossed my fingers that others will have the same progress, and pushed people to keep up training. But I haven’t heard about someone else that had progress with both eyes after one-eye-covered-training. That sucks. So I have wondered if I did something more than covering one eye that led to success, and now i have an idea I want people to try, with a bit inspiration from Eye suppression theory as origin of our issues . So this is what i want people to try: Look with both eyes open. Keep an bad-screen-phone in your left hand, a bit to the left. Put your right hand open and standing between your nose and your right eye. If you have done right, you can see things in the room with both eyes, but you can only see the phone with your left eye. Keep up training like this, and we will see if someone get some success. —————————— List of users that covering one eye works on (i hope someone will test my idea): martin “I could use my camera display with one eye very well, two eyes were problem.” https://ledstrain.org/d/369-my-possible-solution-treatment-and-progress-so-far/13 ensete “It is frankly embarrassing to have to do it, but so far I've managed to slog along for a few months using Windows 10 by patching my right eye. To me this proves 100% beyond any doubt that the issue (for me at least) is 100% related to my bincular vision processing be adversely effected by the way Window 10 displays the screen.” https://ledstrain.org/d/1263-still-patching-daily-with-windows-10 xelaos “I regularly just use my smartphone for 30min-90min hour a day and just close my right eye. So i have close to zero problems with the device compared to severe issues when i use both.” https://ledstrain.org/d/188-your-health/449 bkdo “This is really interesting. I've been trying patching my right eye while using my MacBook and it's noticeably better. Not perfect, but definitely better.” https://ledstrain.org/d/1263-still-patching-daily-with-windows-10/10 degen ”I seem to be able to tolerate otherwise intolerable software while using the eye patch. Also my concentration is better.” https://ledstrain.org/d/925-windows-10-version-1507/28 KM ”I notice relief, too, when looking at general ’temporal dithering’ output (quotes because no proof) like Firefox, Windows 10, etc. while covering an eye.” https://ledstrain.org/d/1263-still-patching-daily-with-windows-10/3 ryans ”When covering one eye, the dizziness seems better when using the laptop internal display.” https://ledstrain.org/d/1276-so-depressedlenovo-ideapad5-gives-eyestrain-and-nausea/8 AGI ”I have been using the eye patch not consistently, but quite often. Surprisingly, after struggling the first couple of times, I can now read quite easily without getting an headache.” From Private Message SunnyD “ I did the patching 3 weeks ago for about a week and it worked, but after about two weeks of no pain, it came back.” Post in this thread And so on … I didn’t had the time to find all users that had success with one eye …

mike It must be relatively common to have a mild binocular vision dysfunction, like a normal human variation. None of us is made perfectly. Or perhaps it develops after a TBi or as part of disease process (more recently, multiple sclerosis). It is unacceptable that modern display tech is made so carelessly. Having said that, I hope there is some truth to the theory. It will make it easier for us to get action in the future, especially if a link between flickering and BVD can be made. Importantly, it must be paired with capture card footage and analysis.

mike So this is what i want people to try: Look with both eyes open. Keep an bad-screen-phone in your left hand, a bit to the left. Put your right hand open and standing between your nose and your right eye. If you have done right, you can see things in the room with both eyes, but you can only see the phone with your left eye. Keep up training like this, and we will see if someone get some success. Can you explain this a bit more? I'm definitely interested in trying it, how long did you train per day with this method? And if I'm left eye dominant, I'd assume that I should do the reverse of this? (Look at bad screen with right eye) Anyway, thank you for creating this thread. This is a very interesting theory, and I'm definitely curious if this could potentially be the root cause to our issues.

bkdo Can you explain this a bit more? I'm definitely interested in trying it, how long did you train per day with this method? And if I'm left eye dominant, I'd assume that I should do the reverse of this? (Look at bad screen with right eye) I am also left eye dominant, so you can follow my instructions. If you start with 5-10 minutes and that feels comfortable increase next time and so on. Find what works for you. I trained for an hour a day. bkdo Anyway, thank you for creating this thread. This is a very interesting theory, and I'm definitely curious if this could potentially be the root cause to our issues. I am very grateful for this forum, so I am happy to help 🙂

Hey Mike add me in the list. I did the patching 3 weeks ago for about a week and it worked, but after about two weeks of no pain, it came back. Question to you, do you keep up with the training or did you stop training after not getting eye strain anymore?

mike Sounds like you've been training the dominant eye, have you had any luck training the non-dominant one as well?

bkdo For the most i have trained my dominant eye, always both eyes open! When i started training I didn’t know that i was training, i was just happy that i could use a newer iPhone without getting tension headache. After some weeks i tested with both eyes open, and I couldn’t believe that I didn’t got any tension headache. First step with training was iPhone 4S to 5S, that was easy. Then 5S to 7. Third was iPhone 7 to 11 Pro, that took around 9 months of training, and i gave up a few times on the way.

SunnyD Hey Mike add me in the list. Now you are on the list 🙂 SunnyD I did the patching 3 weeks ago for about a week and it worked, but after about two weeks of no pain, it came back. Question to you, do you keep up with the training or did you stop training after not getting eye strain anymore? The first two years i trained a lot, the last year almost no training. But for some new screens I start to feel tension headache and then i train with one eye 30-60 minutes and then the screen works without tension headache.

When I was pushing through a lot of eye pain, my right would hurt really bad, so I would close it.

mike How do you know which is your dominant eye? My eye strain problem is pretty new, and I've only recently found this forum.

mike In the first two years you were training, how long were your training session? Also were you training both eyes?

One-Eye-Success for 10+ users on LEDStrain

Mrak0020

AGI

The dominant eye is the eye that is responsible for distance and space recognition. Its purpose is to tell you where in space is the object of your focus.

It has nothing to do with the vision quality, often the dominant eye is the eye which has less clear picture.

My best eye is left and my dominant eye is right.

KG89

Mrak0020

I did the finger window triangle test mentioned on a different post, which seems to show that my right eye is dominant. I've been wearing a patch yesterday and today on my left (non-dominant) eye, and there seems to be little to no eye strain when I'm doing so.

I guess my question is this: by patching the non-dominant eye, is that possibly allowing the non-dominant eye to "heal up," so to speak? I feel like I may have strained something physically in my eye that needs time and rest to heal. Or, alternatively, would it be better to patch the DOMINANT eye and work using the non-dominant eye, as a way to sort of "train up" the non-dominant eye?

In any case, I'm happy that patching seems to be working, both in terms of my physical relief (I was just able to lead an hour and a half Zoom meeting with no discomfort), as well as that it gives me some more concrete information to be able to tell a doctor.

AGI

Mrak0020

Thanks! I did not know that.

SunnyD Did you try to use the eye-patch during the day with natural light? Next, I want to try that and see if I still see the shadow. I also want to try the eye-patch on the left eye.

xelaos

KG89

I would say that it is highly unlikely that patching the non-dominant eye will help you with your binocular vision, since if you have trouble with your binocular vision it can have many reason, but it is pretty rare that a weak or less engaged dominant eye is the cause. If you have a weak eye it is most likely your non-dominant eye so patching the dominant could help.

However, most of the time problems with binocular vision are due to the effect that both eyes could not work properly together which is best trained with both eyes open. @martin described some possibilities her which is also difficult for adults. Binocular vision issues can be caused by so many reasons that even hip, jaw, shoulder imbalances can play a huge role.

For most people who cover one eye it is most comfortable to cover their non-dominant eye, since you don't have to adapt when patching and when taken the patch of. Maybe when patching regularly you eyes are more relaxed than now and you can get some minutes/hours extra with both eyes before that become fatigued again.

I would try patching both eyes and give it some time and learn whats best for yourself even if that sounds boring.

bkdo

Here's my current plan, does this seem like it would be useful to see if there are any improvements?

-Patch dominant eye for 1 week, taking note of symptoms (When they occur and how intense they are)

-Then, patch non-dominant eye for 1 week, while doing the same symptom tracking.

I'll be using the patch for at least 4-5 hours per day, while using my problematic computer.

Any suggestions for this plan?

mike

That's interesting. My assumption would be that you'd have to patch the dominant eye to give the weaker eye a chance to train itself, but I'm seeing a lot of people saying they've had luck training the dominant eye instead. Like others said, it seems that dominant eye vs non-dominant is unrelated to vision quality. There's so much we need to learn about this theory 😐️

mike

bkdo

It sounds like a good plan.

For me it’s more to find the right mode so our brains starts reprogram/relearn how to watch a screen, or what happened for me.

I haven’t been so focused on which eye that are the dominant eye or not, and I look with both eyes open, then I patch with something only for the screen.

diop

A book I would definitely recommend is Fixing my Gaze by Susan R. Barry. She was stereo-blind since birth and eventually gained complete stereo-vision. It also contains a few exercises (the usual IIRC) but nether-the-less is an inspiring read.

Does everybody on the list have physically straight eyes? There are various reasons for stereo-blindness and I'm interested to know if the eyes for other people here actually deviate physically or appear straight? The level of correction needed would be different for somebody with seemingly straight eyes vs. a physical issue preventing both eyes to focus on the same point.

degen

diop

My left eye is physically higher than my right eye.

In my morning I sometimes wake up to minor diplopia. The vision from my left eye has to "come down" and the vision from the right eye has to "come up" so that the image fuses. When this occurs, it happens with every blink and only fixes itself when I am fully woken up.

To me it seems like it means something, although my previous optometrist denied vertical heterophoria.

Edit: I got the audiobook of Fixing My Gaze. Looking forward to the listen. The preview had me really engrossed already.

KG89

diop My eyes are physically straight. I've heard good things about Fixing My Gaze, probably will pick up a copy soon. In the meantime, what exercises are recommended? I'm new to this. Is there a YouTube video or something similar showing what to do?

SunnyD

AGI my experience is exactly like yours. Although at night i use a bright led book lamp reading kindle on my samsung z fold 3 while patched.

martin

I want to add here that despite almost 3 years of visual therapy by now, this method also works for me. I have far less issues now using both eyes with new displays than before, but I still get vertigo and dizziness and pain around eyes especially when trying to work with text for longer periods on new devices.When I patch one eye or alternate them, the issue is almost gone (using only one eye is exhausting in its own different way, but the muscle pain and headaches do not emerge).

I found this article - https://www.newjerseyeyesite.com/2015/03/10/lazy-eye-is-patching-effective/

There is a chance that patching one of your eyes rests the whole binocular system and allows you to work with both eyes on new tech for longer periods later also. Most people with BVD have already strained vision even during daily tasks, they just dont realize it, since it has always been like that.

SunnyD

AGI yes i patch in the daytime too and don't get the shadowing effect afterwards.

AGI

SunnyD I did cover the other eye - the left one - last night. I was quite surprised by how smooth the reading was. I always thought that was my weak eye but I could not tell the difference. Actually, it was probably easier to read with the right eye patched than the vice versa. I also confirmed that with my left eye I could read from closer. I wonder if that is due to the minimal astigmatism of my left eye. I once read that minimal astigmatism is often better not corrected because it somehow facilitates accommodation while reading.

I read for about 45 minutes and when I turned off the light the shadow effect was there, so it is eye-independent. I still need to try using the eye-patch during day time.

mike

This is a bit interesting:

“ it is not uncommon for a person we diagnose with BVD to have been told repeatedly by other optometrists that their vision is entirely ‘normal.’”
https://www.neurovisionaustin.com/2020/02/24/how-is-binocular-vision-dysfunction-diagnosed/

“ In some instances, an eye patch may need to be worn over the dominant eye. This helps strengthen the weaker eye over time. Depending on the severity of the condition, this may be the only course of action needed at this time. Patients may only need to wear the eye patch for a short period of time in order to achieve satisfactory results.”
https://www.dizzinessandheadache.com/blog/binocular-vision-dysfunction.html

AGI

Just wanted to add that I am trying a second type of eye patch that I can mount on my glasses with neutral lenses and blue filter. Covering the right eye makes the reading less clear at the distance my laptop screen is (~45-50 cm). The focus is much neater if I put the patch on the left eye. I assume this noticeable difference to reading from my Kindle while in bed is due to the increased distance from the reading source (I estimate I keep my Kindle at 30-35 cm). Fortunately, in the office there are fluorescent overhead lights of the old type rather than LEDs as at home. However, I still get the "shadow effect" when I remove the patch after more than 30 minutes of practice, even if the I am not looking up against the lights as when I am in bed. The effect is less pronounced and fades more quickly, though.

cizeta

I just want to add that using only one eye helps me with most backlit screens, be it OLED or LCD. But, it has no effect on how I see projectors or frontlit displays (E-ink).

Has anyone considered that LED backlit displays themselves may be causing the impaired binocular vision?

Perhaps it's through excess binocular fatigue just during use, or actual binocular degradation over time.

xelaos

cizeta

So you still have issues with E-Ink/projectors?

Mrak0020

cizeta for me it is solely some new displays and they break my otherwise good vergence immediately.
So yes, that is my default theory

cizeta

xelaos yeah, I didn't know how to make that part clear.
I do not still have a problem with e-ink and projector screens. However, covering one eye and viewing them doesn't change what they look like, vs. how I can immediately tell the difference on most LCDs and OLEDs when I use one eye (regardless of fatigue).
I guess what I'm trying to say is, the purely visual difference between using one vs. two eyes is not there with indirect-light displays.

bkdo

Today is Day 7 of using a patch on my dominant eye. I bought a cheap eyepatch from Amazon, and have used it at least 4-5 hours per day while using problematic screens. Here are my impressions so far:

Devices used for the week: 2021 MacBook Pro 14", OLED LG TV, iPad 7th Gen. All caused the usual symptoms (gritty eyes, eye strain, headaches, pulsing feeling above eyes, dizziness, etc) with normal use without wearing a patch.

While patched, I'm able to use problematic screens for longer periods of time without symptoms.
When I do get symptoms, they're definitely less painful and less noticeable. For example, without the patch, I would frequently get a pulsing migraine-ish pain above my eyes while using problematic screens. This occurred less often with the patch and was much less painful when it did occur. Also, it seems to clear up faster.
I've noticed very little side effects from using a patch for 4-5 hours a day. I also spoke to my opthalmologist and she said that there shouldn't be any cause for concern regarding overuse of the patch in my case. My uncovered eye has gotten more tired than usual, but that seems to be a side effect of using it much more than usual.

To summarize: the patch seemingly reduces my symptoms and lets me use problematic screens for longer periods of time. I still get the usual symptoms, though they seem to be less painful and clear up a bit more quickly.

I'm going to finish out the day, then take a day completely off of screens tomorrow. Then, I'm going to spend a week with the patch on my non-dominant eye and see if there's any difference in symptoms.

IMO, this is absolutely worth exploring further. I've spent four years now trying as many possible solutions as I could think of, and this is the first thing that's actually made some kind of tangible difference. I'm interested to see what happens when I patch my non-dominant eye, I'm really hoping it lessens the symptoms even further.

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