I am very excited to have found this forum! Hopefully I’m not alone in the following!
The issue: The LED backlight from modern computer monitors makes me sick. However I have no problem at all with certain older LED backlit monitor models. There are some older monitors I can use for 8+ hours a day without any issue at all (see the “Successful” list below for examples), while most (all?) modern monitors released in the past 5-6 years or less cause me to experience significant symptoms (eye strain, headache, disorientation, general feeling of unease) within only a couple minutes of use (see the ”Side-Effect Causing Monitors” below)! The difference for me between these two "groups" is profound. I am trying to understand the difference better so I can locate a modern monitor that will work for me. In fact, as a computer gamer I have been on quite a quest to locate a gaming monitor that could potentially work!
I have narrowed down the issue to the LED backlighting being the problem because I discovered that certain modern LED desk lamps immediately cause the same symptoms! I also believe it to be LED backlighting related because the side-effects occur even if the monitor is on but receiving no input (is showing a black screen but backlighting is yet active).
I also experienced the same symptoms from an OLED TV (I had thought OLED might be a solution but in fact it was quite unbearable for me). I have found one modern TV that works no problem, a 4K Samsung (UN55TU8000FXZA). This leads me to believe there is some difference in backlighting that I do not yet understand. My current working theory is that modern LEDs produce a wider spectrum of wavelengths (visible and not visible) for the sake of color reproduction, and some wavelength(s) is/are really irritating to my retinas.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? And if so, has anyone found a modern monitor (preferably a gaming monitor) that works? Thank you for ALL thoughts and suggestions!
For reference:
SUCCESSFUL MONITORS (I can use these 8+ hours a day no problem!):
Here is a list of monitors I am sure that I CAN use for 12+ hours a day without any problem whatsoever:
1. Asus VS247H-P 23.6”, TN, 1080p, 60 Hz, 300 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 33 watt power usage, release 2/10/11. PWM detectable with camera. (Edit: Panels produced from 2012 through 2015 are totally fine, but my copy from 2018 causes symptoms!)
2. Acer G276HL Gbd 27”, VA, 1080p, 60 Hz, 300 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 24 watt power usage, release 2/1/13. PWM detectable with camera.
3. Dell P2014HT 19.5”, IPS, 900p, 60 Hz, 250 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 20 watt power usage, release late 2013. No PWM detectable.
4. Dell E177FPb 17”, TN, 1280x1024, 60 Hz, matte, release date 2007 or earlier. No PWM detectable.
5. As for a TV: 4K Samsung (UN55TU8000FXZA) I can use no problem!
SIDE-EFFECT CAUSING MONITORS:
Here is a list of monitors that make me sick in a few minutes:
1. Asus PG279Q 27”, IPS, 1440p, 165 Hz, 350 cd/m2 brightness, matte, up to 90 watt power usage, release 10/27/15. Flicker-free.
2. Asus PG278QR 27”, TN, 1440p, 165 Hz, 350 cd/m2 brightness, matte, up to 90 watt power usage, release 5/8/17. Flicker-free.
3. Acer XB271HU 27”, IPS, 1440p, 165 Hz, 350 cd/m2 brightness, matte, release 5/8/17. Flicker-free.
4. Asus VG248QE 24”, TN, 1080p, 144 Hz, 350 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 45 watt power usage, release 1/17/13. Flicker-free.
5. Nixeus NX-EDG27 27”, IPS, 1440p, 144 Hz, 300 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 32 watt avg/ 50 watt max, release 7/1/17. Flicker-free.
6. Asus VZ27AQ 27”, IPS, 1440p, 60 Hz, 250 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 40 watt power usage, release 5/12/17. Flicker-free.
7. Dell U2412M 24”, IPS, 1200p, 60 Hz, 300 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 38 watt, release 7/22/11. PWM detectable with camera.
8. LG 24MP59HT-P 23.8", IPS, 1080p, 75 Hz, 250 cd/m2 brightness, matte, 17.1 watt, release 2017. Flicker-free.
9. As for a TV: OLED TVs (at least LG OLED) are totally intolerable for me!