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Thanks for your detailed information. First of all I have to say that it's not easy for me to explain this medical stuff in english, however I'm pretty sure that you guys will know what I mean.

I've two major problems in my head/face/...
One is burxism and as a result problems with my temporomandibular joint and strainend facial muscles around it. Those symptoms get much better with a retainer I've got for 2 years know. However the strainend facial muscles did not relax totally. So one theory is that the strainend muscles influence the eye muscles in a certain way. One possible explanation is that during night, I can't breath with my nose and cause I'm breathing through the mouth at night the lower jaw gets into a non optimal position and strains his narrow muscles.
The other major problem is the heavy eyestrain. I've also a deviated septum and very narrow nostrils and a theory of the Neuro-ophthalmologist is that the lacrimal glands are not ventilated in the right way. Moreover it is a fact that my lacrimal glands produce too less tear fluid. Eye drops and special eye therapies onle help a little bit.

In my case it's also a discussion for years if I should do a nasal septum surgery or not. Otorhinolaryngologists are discordant if this surgery is really necessary, however I decided for me that I'll do it even if there is only a little chance to palliate my problems.

Just think about, that even if you suppose that you are at full health, it is possible that you don't notice things like bruxism or the fact that you are a mouth breather.

Also the chronical inflammation of my tonsils wasn't recognized by experts till now, however it is high time to get them out. Moreover the high inflammation markers in my body couldn't be good for the eyes.

Of course I think that we have some kind ouf "faster eyes" and maybe our eye muscles can react faster to flicker, but don't ignore other factors in your body which can influence the eye system in a bad way - even if experts say different things to you.

    So I figured I'd chime in here. Draw whatever conclusions you want but I'll try to elaborate on the onset of symptoms as well as severity.

    I'm 41. I'm overweight. I have in the past couple years made some concerted efforts to lose weight and hit my target goal. I practice kenpo karate and will never reach second black if I don't lose like another 25lbs. so there's that.

    When I am more fit, I notice my eye problems less. Although that isn't a universal truth - some screens hurt NO MATTER WHAT. It's possible that my tolerance is higher for discomfort in general when I'm more fit. Or, it's possible that fitness brings with it less time spent in front of screens.

    I have high cholesterol, but it goes down with weight loss so once I reach my goal weight the numbers should be good for that also. No other abnormal blood work.

    I have mild anxiety. Martial arts helps. So does getting enough sleep.

    I have a fast heartbeat. Have had it since I was a kid. It's hereditary/congenital. And harmless.

    I have TMJ and Bruxism. However, I've worn a nightguard for TMJ - and had TMJ flareups - for years. And never had a problem with any screen of any kind before 2012. Maybe the very tail end of 2011. But I was treated for TMJ long before that. How severe my TMJ is bothering me doesn't seem to correlate at all with my eye issues.

    I suffer from allergies. Both seasonal and specific. I'm sensitive to sulfur compounds (found in natural gas exhaust) as well as molds and grass and tree pollen. Again, there seems NO correlation between allergy symptoms and eye problems.

    I have tinnitus. Inflammatory, not nerve damage. It's related to the TMJ. It also seems to not correlate with eye issues.

    I consume caffeine (a couple big cups of coffee a day) and alcohol (a drink or two a couple nights a week) but neither in excess and neither seems to correlate.

    I don't smoke, consume drugs, or even take very many over-the-counter medicines (although I used to be a bit of a vitamin junkie, I gave that up once the science started coming in on it).

    I see a chiropractor for neck/spine alignment issues (years of computer work combined with a midlife fascination for getting my ass kicked in the dojo). How well my spine is doing also doesn't seem to correlate.

    I do go through swings. In late 2012 and very early 2013 it was the worst. I had nights where my eyes were so strained I simply COULD NOT SEE. Parts of 2015 and 2016 were much better. Late 2016 has seen a return to form. Nothing in my life - fitness, activity level, illness/injury - really seems to correlate.

    I do wear progressive glasses. Beginning in 2015 these were needed. My prescription is roughly -5/+1.5, or -4.75 if wearing standard lenses. No astigmatism.

    In 2001-2002 I became dreadfully ill from food poisoning. Long story short I "starved" for about 8-12 weeks. During this period my tinnitus/inflammation flared up badly, as well as my vitreous layer in my eyes separating. This is a normal thing that happens to everyone, but usually not at the age of 26. Usually more around 40-45. The illness might have been a trigger, or it might be coincidental. Either way I recovered fully, and had no visual issues (other than floaters in the vitreous layer) for a decade.

    If anyone sees anything in here they'd like clarification on, or that they think might help, let me know.

      Gurm

      Well, bruxism is a connection and I also guess that you have high inflammation markers in your blood. Thanks for your detailled answer - every story and tale of woe will lead us to an conclusion. At present I think that just looking at technical specs brings us to nowhere. Too manifold are the technical reasons for the eyestrain.

      • Gurm replied to this.

          Harrison I very well might have high inflammation markers. They didn't pop on my last bloodwork, but that was a while ago. I can certainly bring it up next time I go for a physical.

            41 year old, not in the greatest shape. Migraine sufferer for over 15 years. Other issue is severe, chronic sinusitis.

            One thing I have noticed is that there DOES seem to be a sinus connection to all this. It is a general consensus that the Trigeminal nerve is at the base of all our issue. Google it and you can see where the three branchs of the nerve go on your face. The Sphenoid sinnus and frontal sinus's are highly enervated and intersect with several of these branches as well. There is also nerve intersection near the TMJ

            It sounds odd, but there does seems to be a connection, when I get a triggered migraine, I also get stuffed up. The nerves around your face, forehead, sinus, and jaw are very interconnected.

              ensete

              Thanks for your input ensete . Well same at my side. chronical sinusitis.

              May you explain the "sinus connection" a bit more exactly please 🙂

                  Harrison It sounds really wierd, I mean, sinuses and eye strain, WTF do they have to do with each other?

                  However, the nerves that are actually causing you eye strain also interact with your sinuses, and the nerves in your sinuses also interact with your ears, TMJ, and jaw muscles. The nerves in your face are all very highly interconnected. So when one is irritated it can effect areas you wouldn't think. In my case I was having pretty bad ear, TMJ, and jaw pain for over a year, no one could diagnose it, scans came back fine, doctor after doctor was baffled. I finally found a great ENT who did a different type of scan and found my sphenoid sinus was completely blocked and infected. I had surgery to correct the issue, and after recovering, my ear, TMJ, and jaw pain vanished. And when I get a sinus infection, the pain comes back until the infection clears up.

                  I have also heard stories of people who have had non related pallete surgery, but as a side effect, it cured their migraines.

                  I don't think it's really helpful info to have since there's nothing you can really do with it, but it helps remove some of the mystery

                    This is a bit of a stretch, but have you sinus folk or anyone else for that matter ever been prescribed oral fluoroquinolones? (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, etc?)

                      MagnuM I have not, but I have had 2 sinus surgeries, and one of them cleared up a TMJ and facial pain issue I was having, even though they were nowhere near that sinus. My ENT surgeon was the one who explain this all to me. If you are near the Philadelphia region, I can't recommend Dr. Edmund Pribitkin at Jefferson University ENT enough.

                        MagnuM yeah, I've been prescribed Cipro a few times in the past 5 years.

                          I also suffer from Hay fever / chronic allergy to dust / dust mites, etc.

                          JTL I think just a bad card.
                          However, happy to say the RMA is complete and I have a new replacement one 🙂 (entirely new computer - not just a new card)

                          I must say, the different between the IPC Intel HD4400 (with the IPC2 I was using as backup) and nvidia with dithering disabled is a huge difference for me - despite a 8-bit non-PWM monitor.

                            In case anyone was wondering where I was going with my question, Health Canada just released an updated bulletin last week about the potential for fluoroquinolone toxicity in rare cases:

                            http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2017/61900a-eng.php
                            http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/reviews-examens/fluoroquinolones2-eng.php

                            Now I don't mean to scare anybody! Millions of these Rx's are written out every year. Like I said, rare cases, and any link is a streeeetch!

                            The mentioning of the potential for delayed side effects for days/weeks was the most interesting to me. I believe I may have read a similar FDA warning in 2013 about it.

                            I took a two-week round of Ciprofloxacin (500 MG) from Feb 11, 2006 --> Feb 23, 2006, and was also taking an anti-inflammatory called Arthrotec (75 MG) at the same time. On the morning of Sunday, March 12, 2006, I woke up to symptoms of sudden and severe brain fog, head pressure, derealization/depersonalization, and an intoxicated feeling that felt like a drug reaction (and no, I wasn't drinking the night before, lol). I stopped all Rx prescriptions at this point.

                            It's been almost 11 years since that day with the issue chronic and daily, and the cause never found. Getting such bizarre LED sensitivity starting in December 2011 just added to the mystery. I have no idea if the two issues are linked or not. I just wonder if some sort of CNS toxicity could have happened, but there is no way to prove or disprove that theory.

                            Like I said, don't get scared, because it could also be completely unrelated!

                            • JTL replied to this.

                              I just wonder if some sort of CNS toxicity could have happened, but there is no way to prove or disprove that theory.

                              It's certainly possible. I was exposed to hydrocarbons from a faulty heating system for a few days, and from that limited exposure years ago am now sensitized to all sorts of hydrocarbons and have an immediate, painful reaction to them, and will for life. From my reading, once a sensitive individual is exposed to a substance and sensitized to it (develops an increased reaction/other effects) it is nearly impossible to "de-sensitize" that person. They just need to live with it.

                              I'm not saying this has definitely happened to you, and given the extremely small % of people susceptible to this it is extremely likely it has not happened, but there is a non zero chance.

                              Well I just came home from my tonsillectomy (painful), the nasal septum surgery will take place in 20 days. I'll give you an update shortly after the that.

                              4 days later

                              Jerry

                              Similar. This all sounds like self-diagnosed WebMD paranoia.

                              A. Look at one LED monitor - get immediate headaches/migraines/eye strain lasting for a little while to days
                              vs
                              B. Look at another LED monitor - nothing

                              There's just something wrong with certain LED panels (response/image retention/etc) that affects certain people. I picked a monitor from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/flicker_free_database.htm and received immediate relief. You may have to select one from that list with the best specs, but you should find relief as as well. This is coming from someone who can't even take a few minutes of certain LED panels before having a 3-4 day headache.

                              Now if you already have health complications and migraines before, a different monitor will likely not cure that.

                                  train44 There's just something wrong with certain LED panels (response/image retention/etc) that affects certain people. I picked a monitor from http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/flicker_free_database.htm

                                  Thats not a definite. I am using a monitor right now that is certified flicker free on that page and am having troubles with it. It's looking to be much more video hardware/driver dependent than monitor dependent.

                                      Agreed. I purchased a flicker free, low blue light and high refresh screen and had problems when connecting it to a known good PC/video card.

                                      dev