Motion Sickness that Last for Days on Certain Computers

Dizzy

Hello all.

I am at a loss of what to do. On certain computers I get motion sickness that last for days. I have tried everything I can think of:

Display position/monitor height and distance/ergonomics
Changes in lighting
Enduring that it’s set to 8bit to reduce temporal dithering
Use the most up to date drivers
Modifying colors
Wearing blue light blockers
Not using more than 60hz as higher gives me headaches
Disabling/enabling smooth scrolling
Calibrating brightness, contrast, and clear type
Tried multiple blue light and brightness softwares like Iris

I am able to use my work computer without getting sick. It is as follows:

HP ZBook - Works connected to external monitor

Windows 10 21h2 With intel Iris for graphics connected to Dell monitor maxed at 60hz

I can’t use:

Dell G5 15 5500 - Causes Issues

Windows 11 22H2 with Intel UHD (6bit) and Nvidia 1660 TI (can’t make this the primary card as it switches only on high performance). Set to 60hz but can go to 120hz

Home Build Computer - Causes Issues

Windows 10 22H2 with Nvidia 1060 GTX hooked up to a 19 inch Vizio TV. Set to 60hz

I have had this issue on both the 21H2 and 22H2 of the last two machines. I previously had an Alienware I traded in as it hurt/screen said it was only 60hz but could go to 360hz and despite being at 60hz in Windows settings, the display was still shooting out a strong signal.

I have a B12 Deficiency that is really stubborn due to genetic issues that don’t let me bypass a bad gene that prevents proper conversion to methyfolate (I can’t take methyl products due to another gene issue) so I know my nerves are a bit compromised.

however, why am I fine on the ZBook hooked to an external monitor but not the other computers? (I even tried connected the G5 to the external monitor my ZBook uses… and ensured all screens were at the same height.)

Thank you,

ryans

Dizzy Sorry to hear your symptoms, but you're in good company here. did the issue start with upgrading 21H2?

Dizzy

ryans thanks for checking. The issue is on both 21H2 and 22H2 from what I can tell. I tested before and after with the same issues.

ryans

Dizzy have you tried ditherig ?

also have you seen an optometrist specialist to get tested for binocular vision dysfunction? or vestibular migraines?

Dizzy

ryans Thanks. The checks for BVD were negative. I am working with a vestibular rehab to fix convergence deficiency. But it seems odd that I am fine on my work laptop and not the other computers. If it was solely an eye issue, I would suspect it would occur across all computer screens. Could it be the temporal dithering? I thought I had that disabled by ensuring 8bit.

ryans

Dizzy You might want to checkout @martin post or his blog here. He, like many of us, have no symptoms working on older tech. But whatever dithering or other kinds of flicker did, it triggered underlying vision issues.

Dizzy . I am working with a vestibular rehab to fix convergence deficiency.

That sounds like a binocular vision problem. Did you get a specific diagnosis? Is the rehab with a physiotherapist / physical therapist or an eye doctor?

Dizzy

ryans Thanks for all the help. I really suspect the dithering (especially as symptoms Increase by increasing hz), but need a reliable way to test that. I worked with a vision specialist who twice ruled out BVD but did confirm convergence insufficiency for which I am doing vestibular therapy.

ryans

Dizzy I worked with a vision specialist who twice ruled out BVD but did confirm convergence insufficiency for which I am doing vestibular therapy.

Where do you live? In USA, convergence insufficiency should be treated with vision therapy, and is considered a form of BVD. What kind of exercises do you do for vestibular therapy?

Dizzy

ryans I am in the US and suspect this is a type of BVD since the eyes are not working together. I am doing vision therapy along with vestibular to bring the eyes together (left one goes out when focusing on an object). The current therapeutic phase is focused on covering my good eye and tracking with the left. It is starting to work.

I am also going to take pictures of each screen as the photos tend to show banding (where my eyes don’t see it). Thank you for taking time out to assist me!

Dizzy

Just took a picture with my phone of one of the “bad” computers and I can see bands on the photo, but not when looking at the screen with my eyes. This may be the dithering effect others have mentioned. Going to take pictures of the other computers now to compare (along with increasing the hz to see if more bands show on the photo

Dizzy

And wow. Just turned up the Hz and it showed even more banding/screen checkers…. I need to take a photo of my “good” computer to compare but it appears that dithering increases with Hz.

ryans

Not sure if the pattern you see is PWM or moire effect. I don't think temporal dithering would be easily spotted on a single image, since it "shimmers".

Dizzy

This is at 120 Hz. It has more bands then at 60hz and this weird purple and green “flare”

Dizzy

How would I check the PWM?

ryans

Dizzy If you have a smartphone, taking a video of your screen on slow motion could show it (you can post it here). On some laptop screens I've seen, any brightness below 100% use PWM.

EyeDiscomfortCertificate

Keep in mind that temporal dithering can be confused with poor Vcom tuning. Both suck, but temporal dithering can potentially be cured through software configuration, but poor Vcom tuning is a defect of the matrix.

Dizzy

Thank you both. I will try the slow motion capture

ryans

Any luck with the vision therapy @Dizzy ?