I posted this in the Intel thread. Wanted you guys to try it out here, could be another potential solution:

Try using the Generic PnP monitor driver instead of the manufacturer's monitor driver. If you recall, we get eye strain from Intel graphics driver, but when using the Standard VGA driver, no more eye strain. So maybe it is the same for monitor driver as well. So one of my laptop (which causes eye strain), I disabled the OEM/Lenovo monitor driver, and used the Generic PnP driver instead. Here's how I do it:

Control Panel -> Device Manager -> Monitor -> select monitor and right click -> Update Driver Software -> Browse my computer for driver software -> Let me pick from a list of device drivers from my computer -> Generic PnP Monitor -> click Next.

When I use the Generic PnP monitor driver on this laptop, I do noticed a very noticeable relief in eye strain. It's like the eye strain is significantly reduced. I need to test it out more, maybe a week to see if the eye strain really or consistently reduced or not, but it looks promising so far. Because when I switch the monitor driver back to the Lenovo's driver, I definitely feel the eye strain more. When I switch back to the Generic PnP monitor driver, noticeably less eye strain. This doesn't get rid of the eye strain 100%, but it does provide noticeable relief.

Maybe there are multiple causes of eye strain, and we need to identify and eliminate them one by one. PWM is one. Graphics driver is one. Maybe monitor driver is also one. This is something that you might want to try. Give it a go and use the Generic PnP monitor driver, and see if it eliminates or reduce your eye strain or not. Be sure to "get rid" of PWM first, if your laptop had PWM. And please share your findings here.

I have tried monitor drivers and it didn't make any difference, but the ICC profile did. So add that to your list

18 days later

Well, nobody else seem to report that it helps. Looks like the search for the elusive root cause continues.

I found that it helped a LITTLE. On one machine it helped quite a bit. But mostly it isn't enough to counteract the other known causes... most of my issue lately has been Intel drivers and/or Windows 10 Anniversary Edition.

    Gurm Have you tried reverting to older intel driver on win10 anniversary? Theres a link on intel forum. Does it not fix the problem or help it?

      On Win10 anniversary the change happens irrespective of video card. The driver didn't change, BTW. And it happens even on my nVidia Quadro card!

      So yes, I've tried "older drivers". Doesn't matter even a little.

        dev