Eyestrain starts with MacOS 10.13 High Sierra

Aldo

TinkerTool can switch text rendering and also bring back the old rendering algorithm in some OS versions where it hasn't been deprecated.

http://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html

asus389

I can't go above Catalina on my 13 inch MBP 2017 without getting issues with eye strain. With BigSur and Monterey I get spaced out, my eyes water and feel gritty, and I get a migraine like feeling.

At the moment I'm trying to see if I can get used to Ventura on the same machine.

I'm using Firefox (current release - 110) with dark mode enabled and with gfx.color_management.mode = 1. (Full Color Management). Its better than the default color setting in Firefox.
I don't have Mac OS in Dark mode, but I do have a solid black static wallpaper.
I have "Allow Wallpaper Tinting of Windows" disabled.
I used the Accents app to select a system accent that is the one that comes default with the "green" M1 iMac. https://mahdi.jp/apps/accents

It seems to be more tolerable than my previous attempts to user newer Mac OS versions (11, 12) but its still not as comfortable as the older versions for which I needed no special settings or browser versions.

Safari versions newer than 13 cause a similar eye strain for me, even on older Mac OS versions (but curiously not on iOS).

Aldo

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to post an update:

I installed Ubuntu 22.04 on UTM without hardware acceleration on a Macbook air M1 using UTM and I can use it with much less strain. It's still not OK, but at least I can do quick tasks without my eyes hurting.

Hope this helps.

Best

Aldo

Sunspark

On the Macs, you're overlooking firmware updates to the SMC, etc.

asus389

After some testing I find that, at least on Mac OS Ventura, with the settings mentioned above, I can tolerate much of the UI and native apps pretty well. It is better than Big Sur and Monterey on this machine in that regard.

However, Safari still gives me issues. Whatever they are now doing to web rendering causes more strain that the native UI. It took me a while to figure this out because most of what I do with the computer is web based so the first thing I do when I log in is open a browser. Something changed across the major browsers on Mac OS in 2020 that triggered irritation for me, prior to that I never noticed this.

asus389

Also, with Mac Laptops, make sure to disable the keyboard backlight. In my experience, the backlight flickers, even if the LCD screen does not. Disabling it takes a source of flickering light out of your field of vision. The touchbar flickers also, but I haven't found a way to disable it. Luckily my MBP is the one model from that year that didn't have a touch bar.

alexdonskih

I use Catalina on MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2020 without issues but get immediate eye strain after installing Monterey. The interesting fact is that after Monterey installation the eye strain was very noticeable. But after installing the Monterey updates the eye strain got milder (still can't use the system for any prolonged period of time).

CRoebuck

alexdonskih

Have you rolled your 2020 13-inch back to Catalina? Did this make eye strain go away?

alexdonskih

CRoebuck Yes. I use Catalina comfortably.

AGI

IT_Coder reverting them back to earlier macOS versions (including Sierra) does nothing to help make them strain-free again, once having had Catalina on them.

Unbelievable. I feel your frustration. It's a nightmare.

IT_Coder Not sure if the issue has to do with a newer EFI boot loader, installed by Catalina, or what.

I wonder if someone at Apple has the answer.

AGI

@IT_Coder Last year a BIOS update went through on my HP laptop. I spent a few horrible months with more than eyestrain - it was physical pain at the back of my eyes, until, after extensive talking with HP customer care, I found a way to reverse the BIOS upgrade and things went back to normal. Afterwards my IT admin conceded to eliminate the HP app that was running in background, downloading and installing upgrades coming directly from the computer manufacturer.

asus389

I have, at some points, noticed subtle differences in eye strain with different Mac OS updates - even within the same major version. Some updates include firmware updates. I did notice that Ventura updated the firmware on my 2017 13 inch macbook pro when I installed it. I wasn't sure about staying on it, so I went back to Catalina via a clean install and the firmware stayed at the upgraded Ventura version. I don't know of a way to downgrade - but maybe there is one?

Micayou

Aldo exactly the same for me. I use an old MDA under sierra which is the only OS I still support... The computer is showing major signs of weakness, and I really don't know what I'm going to be able to replace it with...

Aldo

Micayou In my case, I will buy an early 2015 Macbook Pro (lthe last model with the good keyboard) and install sierra in one partition and the latest OS it supports in another. That will give me some time, until apple ships their OLEDs in 2027 (clowns). In case I need a better computer, I've checked some Thinkpads and the base models with LCD panels don't bother me. Also, newer Macs connected to a 2012 Led Cinema Display via USB-C to displayport adapter are OK too.

AGI

Aldo until apple ships their OLEDs in 2027 (clowns).

Out of curiosity, what makes you think OLED will be smoother on your eyes?

Aldo

AGI I can use an iPhone 11 Pro without issues and most LG OLEDs I have tried.

Ananiujitha

I can use Mojave with the right hacks. I can't use Catalina, Monterey, or Ventura. I wrote a longer post but "something went wrong."

Leachim38

On the Apple website you can give "feedback"…should we all give "feedback" to Apple?

Aldo

Leachim38 I wrote to Apple Accessibility detailing my findings. They replied and asked for some details.