Thanks for sharing your experience Alexmam. This is a very enigmatic issue for sure. I basically cannot handle any LED monitor either. Anyone in the office that has one, I almost always convince them to come to my desk instead. If I don't, I will have an ocular-like migraine for pretty much the rest of the day. The pain is almost immediate when I look at their monitor too.

I visited an neuro-ophthalmologist this month, and in dilating my pupils and looking in, he said my retina and head of the optic nerve looks OK (that's good at least! Good to know these painful monitors aren't causing any eye damage). He suspects the pain is actually coming from the brain (like the visual processing center). Some of his associates have said that some people have gained some relief from the FL-41 tint. I think a company called Theraspecs in the US makes them.

It's also been suggested that I may have a form of Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome). I'm a bit skeptical, but it at least makes sense in theory. For now, I'm just sticking with my U2410 LCD monitor on 0% brightness with f.lux enabled. That seems to be the most tolerable thing I have found so far.

I can use an iPhone 6S+ fine for a few minutes each day as well. That doesn't seem to bother me as it does some others on here.

Alexman thanks for posting your experience. It certainly rings a bell with many here. and It deservers its own thread.

Does anyone own laptop based on AMD? Do you also get eyestrain from it?

  • JTL replied to this.

    Alexmam Well I have 2015 Macbook Pro with AMD graphics chip. I am only sensitive to PWM though.

    Works very well.

      Alexmam Apple has never used AMD CPU's and I think AMD cpu's are slow.

      But I think that would have nothing to do with quality of graphics as I've seen laptops with the same AMD GPU but Intel or AMD CPU.

        JTL in Intel based laptops CPU integrated graphics is used for office tasks and video card used for 3D. I am wondering how it is done in Apple.

        • JTL replied to this.

          I am trying to understand if buying AMD based laptop will solve my problem. Intel drivers definitely give me eyestrain.

          • JTL replied to this.

            Alexmam Apple uses a hardware multiplexer chip (like the input select on a TV) to switch between GPU's, as in the display is hooked up to this chip. All external graphics ports are hardwired to the AMD graphics chip as well.
            image https://i.imgur.com/e8RdMng.png

            Alexmam Although I don't have the same problem I can sympathize.

            7 days later

            I have changed Intel driver on my Acer Aspire One from 2012 with intel 2000 and LED screen to Standard VGA Adapter driver and stopped having eye strain from this laptop at all. Now it is clear, that driver is the problem for sure.

            • JTL replied to this.

              Alexmam Glad to hear you have a workaround. Unfortunately generic Windows drivers don't allow for 2D/3D acceleration (which probably isn't the case of the issue and dithering is separate)

                JTL I use only office and Internet on my PC, barely watch movies so I am fine with it.

                I wonder what it is about the driver that causes such issues. Is it temporal dithering? Is there a way to see temporal dithering in action?

                  MagnuM I don't know what happened with all drivers but manufacturers obviously don't care.

                  2 months later

                  I'm Rob, 26, have had problems since I was 16.

                  Anything with an IPS screen gives me migraines be it from phones, tablets or computer monitors. I get some mild discomfort from PWM but not enough to stop me using a monitor. I suspect this might be to to do with Irlen syndrome mentioned above - most IPS panels have chevron'd pixels that forms shapes that would affect a person with Irlen syndrome, but I can't say with any certainty. TN panels are mostly fine, ccfl more than led.

                  I have some unknown problems with GPUs, I often struggle when monitors are plugged in via DVI, though sometimes its fine (perhaps due to cable quality, or GPU handling of DVI?). And on the whole seem better with low powered GPUs (Nothing above 8pin power connector has worked for me without causing some issues).

                  My problems have gotten dramatically worse recently, I've moved back in with my parents for a few months whilst I am waiting for a new accommodation. Since then I've been unable to use any computer/monitor combination without headaches. I suspect (and really hope) its something to do with an allergy to my parents dog, I'm hoping it will return to normal when I leave for my (dog free!) housing in september.

                  In the mean time I will be exploring what aspect of computers/monitors is causing current problems, perhaps whatever I learn will allow me to fine tune future computer/monitor setups. At the moment I can only think my problem is an increased sensitivity to dithering (at the monitor hardware level), as I am already using Benq BL2405HT: pwm free; low bluelight monitors.

                    16 days later

                    Seagull try to set your VGA driver to Windows Standard VGA driver and see how your eyes will react.

                    14 days later

                    Hello there. I'm a 36 year old male from North Carolina, USA, who started having rare photo sensitivity issues around age 14. My issues sound somewhat similar to some users, but honestly much different than most. The first time I noticed it was upon trying handheld LCD gaming devices like the Gameboy / VirtualBoy / Game Gear. I would experience headaches, migraines, confusion, become extremely sleepy, or become very angry / negative, lethargic, weak, nauseous, and sometimes vomit, eyes burning, throat hurting.. very strange responses. CRT televisions playing movies or TV shows never bothered me in the least. I tried a few LCD CCFL screens through the early 2000's and I reacted to most of them. I simply abstained from all forms of LCD technology growing up, using CRT monitors and TV's. In the 2010's I tried iPads, Galaxy Note tablets, AMOLED tablets, etc, all to no avail. In 2013 I tried an Alienware Desktop with an CCFL LCD monitor and still reacted poorly. However, I tired a cheap "Zalman" 24 inch TN panel LED in 2013, and found that I had no reaction to this monitor. For the first time in my life I could use modern technology. I found a few other TN panel screens that I was able to use, so I came to the conclusion that something in most TN panels reacted well with my condition. I found that when I would use any sort of IPS technology, and a few other technologies in TV's, monitors and laptops, I would react. I still react despite 0 PWM devices. I react to a FEW select TN panels. Right now I'm forced to use budget laptops such as the Asus X205ta, with zero reactions. I also use a CRT projection 720 tv's. I'm only beginning to learn about "dithering", and I still don't fully understand it or if it's a problem with me... but it's something I'm trying to incorporate into this long-term battle.

                    I will add that I am extremely disabled in my health. I have lesions / scarring on my brain, 24/7 visual migraines, severe Central Sleep apnea, and a lengthy list of rare diseases that I won't go into because of irrelevancy... but I mention my health to say that my journey may be different than others here... but I still hope we can learn from one another. Thanks guys.

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