Foreword: I have severe headaches and eye pain from almost all modern devices(laptops, tv, monitors, smartphones), OS, and screens. The pain begins like sand in the eyes, then the headache begins, and the next morning there is great nausea and pressure, and the headache gets worse. If I use a harmful screen for more than 1 day, the symptoms worsen. I suffered from this for about 10 years, I could not use almost anything. My only working config before patching: Hp ProBook Pro6 440 with Intel Hd Graphics Windows 11 21H2 Night shift: turn on maximum(without any blue color) If I took another computer, another screen, updated the OS, or turned off the blue filter, then I could not use it, and all the symptoms that I mentioned above appeared. 10.02.2023 I started patching. I covered my dominant eye. I bought sunglasses, knock out one glass, and, on the contrary, glue the other with paper and plaster. Here is a photo: This was not my first attempt, but I gave up the previous ones after 1-2 days because there was unbearable pain and I did not see the difference between viewing with two eyes and one. This is a VERY IMPORTANT moment. All the previous pieces of advice that I read on this forum said that when viewing with an eye closed, the pain immediately disappeared. Therefore, for a long time, I thought that patching did not suit me and threw it away immediately every time. And this time, at first it was very difficult, I practically did not feel the difference between looking with one or two eyes, it was very unpleasant for the eyes, but the important difference was that after the patching, the residual pain was much less. That is, my eyes and head hurt while using the laptop, but after I turned it off, everything went much faster than when viewing two eyes. There was no nausea or severe headache. By the way, I started each time "training" at the minimum brightness, gradually increasing it when it became comfortable(but I am not sure that this matters) Every day, I could sit more and more time at the computer with my eye closed. 17.02.2023 I sat behind a "harmful" screen for about 6 hours + another half an hour before going to bed. I was tired of it, and my head hurt, but in general, everything was bearable. the next day I woke up without nausea, headache, and eye pain and I was able to work at the computer again. I planned to increase the time every day if possible, and spend at least 5 hours at the computer with the patch(ideally reach 12). I mainly programmed, corresponded, and worked with documents. 16.02.2023 I sat all day (10+ hours) and did not experience any pain. This is a very important point. I was able to fully work with a screen that was previously inaccessible to me (though with 1 eye) all day and felt great during and after work. At the same time, trouble happened 🙁 My Honor 9 2017 broke after 6 years of work(it was the last suitable smartphone for me). I had to buy a new - Realme 10 Pro Plus 5g - and I decided to use patching with it too because I also could not use any phones without pain. First days I experienced pain and discomfort, but then I was also able to calmly look with 1 eye. At this stage, I already felt that I had won. Yes, in glasses with a glued eye, I look a little ridiculous, but it does not matter. The main thing is that after 10 years, I was again able to use modern technology - smartphones, laptops, etc. I can earn money, surf the web, watch movies, and do it all on any device, without fear that my current oldies will die. Nevertheless, I decided to continue training with one eye, especially since I had no other options. By the way, I also came up with an option for working in public places - we buy glasses with mirrored or super dark glasses and glue the patch from the inside to one lens - others do not see that you are one-eyed, but you can work comfortably 🙂 I continued training and at the beginning of March a miracle happened, I was able to look TWO eyes at my fixed version of Windows configuration (you can read about my problems with the Windows updation here ). I watched a couple of movies and read articles for a few hours. It was a huge win, but I needed to move on. And I switched to training sessions with patching for the current (latest) version of Windows: Hp ProBook Pro6 440 with Intel Hd Graphics Windows 11 22H2-latest night shift off 08.03.2023 I can safely use my new phone and computer on the latest version of Windows without the blue filter, with one eye closed. I do not return to the old version, because I want to teach my eyes to use modern software. I continue training. 15.03.2023 spent more than 4 hours on the latest version of Windows using patching. There was mild discomfort and minor headaches. When it gets hard, I switch to the old version, but less and less every day. 30.03.2023 I made an experiment and did not use the patch for 3 days. As a result, I was able to safely work on my laptop with the latest Windows and use my phone in peace. By the end of the day, my eyes and head felt a little tired, so I will continue patching for a few more weeks. 14.04.2023 For the last 10 days I haven't used patching at all and everything was fine. Used the same laptop and phone. Total : in less than 2 months of patching, I was able to "tune" my eyes to two different configurations of a laptop with Windows and to use a modern smartphone. This is an incredible feeling that the problem that has tormented me for the last 10 years and did not allow me to live in peace, work, and plan my life, has finally been resolved. Of course, I have not tested my eyes on all existing screens, but at the moment I feel that I can adapt to everything. My next plan is to try to set my eyes to using Linux on my laptop, then I want to buy a 2023 laptop and test Windows and Linux on it, and then try a MacBook (even though I don't really like Apple). In any case, I will update my post in a few months and tell you about the further state of affairs. I am sure that I will have good news. I hope the diary of my success story will motivate at least someone to try patching again (or for the first time) and solve a problem that seems unsolvable. If after reading the article you started training and were able to recover, write here, I will be pleased to know that I did not try in vain and was able to motivate someone to do it. I, too, like you, read stories from members of the forum and envied that they could solve their problems so easily. But it turned out that my problems are also solved, I just had to be a little more patient. Thanks to everyone who wrote about patching on the forum before, I couldn't reach this without you, especially @martin and @mike I will continue to visit the forum for the purpose of helping other people. You can ask any questions in this thread. I will try to answer and help you. Good luck and health to all. Don't give up and everything will work out!

Amazing! Happy for you. After reading this, I was curious to know which eye of mine is dominant since I have never actually tested before. The results were fascinating.. I found a link that described two easy eye dominance tests. I did the triangle one first, on one eye the distant object stayed centered, with the other, it disappeared completely from the frame. Then I did the other test with the thumb, with one it stayed centered and with the other it slammed all the way to the side. https://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/dominant-eye-test.htm

My success story about one eye patchnig. After 10 years of suffering, I win

Gemsand

A huge congratulations sir! Very happy for you.

This is fascinating! I will be giving this some real thought and will give serious consideration to going through this process myself.

May I ask please, over the past 10 years before the training, do you feel your eye discomfort was caused primarily when focusing and reading content on the screens, or primarily by the light (whether it be flickering, wavelength, whatever) itself?

arturpanteleev

Gemsand mostly from screens, when I am getting the content. But I did not do serious experiments with other light sources and for example. Although it is hard for me to look for an open LED bulb(but of course, I try not to do that)

Lauda89

Congratulations, I can hear the excitement from your words 🙂

One question: why did you put the patch in your dominant eye and not the other?

arturpanteleev

Lauda89 The logic was that I should train my weak eye. But it is a mistake, cause if one eye is nondominant it doesn't mean that it is weaker than dominant. Now I think that it doesn't matter which eye we should use for training. It would be great to make an experiment but I do not want to risk and violate my successful strategy)

Sunspark

I don't think it's a mistake to consider training the non-dominant eye.. is it so bad if both eyes have the ability to center? I think not. One could even consider that focusing is not as strong on a non-dominant eye due to lack of prioritization.

Artur: You don't need to experiment, you were correct the first time around for yourself.

alexdonskih

Thanks for sharing your experience! Gonna try your approach too.

Can I ask you if you have a motion sickness issues? I'm interested if those are connected with nausea/dizziness from some of modern screens. For example I get very sick in transport: buses, planes, cars, except railway transport. And I can't stand the trips longer than 20-30 minutes without taking a pill.

I've recently purchased a refurbished 2018 11-inch iPad Pro and I get almost the same symptoms which I get from transport when using it (they're noticeably milder but still unpleasant though).

ryans

alexdonskih I do too. What medication do you take? Meclizine?

I'm the same way. I suspect vestibular migraine (with visual dependence) or the SEE-Sick Syndrome (there are exercises you can do, I might try them).

arturpanteleev

alexdonskih Can I ask you if you have a motion sickness issues?

Sometimes I feel nauseous when I ride in the car in the passenger seat. But when I am driving by myself is always ok. I had never had motion sickness issues when I traveled by boat or aircraft.

HAL9000

Thanks for sharing and including what your symptoms are.

(I dont mean to ask too much personal question but it may help with better understanding)

Can I ask if you wore perscription glasses before / during the patching? Do you have astigmatism? Do you suffer from migraine?

Did you close your dominant eye or just leave it open with the patch / paper blocking the lense on the glases?

You patched and used a machine that was 'bad' got pain symptoms but persisted with one eye use each day? Did you start few minutes then come back days later or just push through pain?

Did you have any machine that was 'good' but certain software / application use on that machine would cause your symptoms to get worse?

Otherwise your symptoms sound very similar to mine, I get pressure pain headache that can last days on screens / devices that are 'bad'. I have tried patching but with one eye my glasses do not make a clear picture so it is difficult.

I do have some 'good' machines that when running software (some games) it is bad. Other screens / machines everything is always bad due to graphics card issues.

arturpanteleev

HAL9000 Can I ask if you wore perscription glasses before / during the patching? Do you have astigmatism? Do you suffer from migraine?

No, I haven't used glasses. I've tried once, but it was so hurt so I returned it back. I have insignificant astigmatism but I've never suffered from it, knew about it when I examined the eyes

HAL9000 Did you close your dominant eye or just leave it open with the patch / paper blocking the lense on the glases?

Only paper on the lens of the glasses. And I didn't cover the whole eye. I just cover the area that doesn't allow me to see the screen. At the same time, I could look in the some subject in the room for example

HAL9000 You patched and used a machine that was 'bad' got pain symptoms but persisted with one eye use each day? Did you start few minutes then come back days later or just push through pain?

I had a "good" configuration, so when I started couldn't manage with hurt in my eyes/head a switch from "bad" and do my doings. But I reach the possibility to use a "bad" configuration with one eye quickly(about one week)

HAL9000 Did you have any machine that was 'good' but certain software / application use on that machine would cause your symptoms to get worse?

Yes, I wrote about it on this topic, please read it attentively. I had started to have trouble when my windows has been updated.

alexdonskih

ryans it's Dimenhydrinate, sold under the brand name Dramamine.

Ouch

I'm new here, looking for solutions like all of you. And something does feel better – even if I just try covering my right eye with my hand. Might invest in a patch!

But something about this reminds me of something else I discovered during research: Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD). It’s where your eyes are having difficulty working together as a team because they are slightly misaligned, and your body is struggling to compensate.

ensete

I've been patching for about 3 years now. Still no appreciable difference when I am not wearing a patch

karut

ensete How exactly? Only covering part of your field of view (like the OP patching his glasses) or with the patched eye closed (the patch laying directly on the eye lids)?.

AGI

arturpanteleev Well done, very happy for you!

ensete Any side effect from patching for so long?

Sunspark Those methods tell the dominant eye at distance. In my case, it's the right eye. But to my surprise at near my left eye is dominant. Therefore, I may have to patch one or the other eye depending on whether I'm using my laptop or a monitor.

@arturpanteleev To be honest, the mechanism by which you have cured your symptoms isn't clear to me, and to my orthoptist and behavioral optometrist either. They fear that patching for prolonged time may worsen my esophoria. In fact, I noticed some eye crossing when I pushed myself using the patch. The other thing I experience is that, when I get tired, my uncovered eye switches off and I tend to use the dominant eye, which results in seeing the patch (my patched eye is open and there's some light coming thru the patch texture) instead of the screen or the sheet. Also, if I remove the patch, turn the light off and head to bed, for some time I see flashes of light in the eye that was patched.

arturpanteleev

ensete I've been patching for about 3 years now. Still no appreciable difference when I am not wearing a patch

Yes, I remember the story that you described on ledstrain before. But I think this is not a big problem, while u can work with the patch. Of course, it would be better to work with two eyes, but your current achievements are better than nothing - u able to do everything as a healthy person but with the eye patch. Anyway, it is interesting why my eyes "get used to" this exercize and yours are not

arturpanteleev

AGI I see flashes of light in the eye that was patched.

I think it is ok. Cause when your eye had been covered sometimes (and another is not) he started to be more sensitive to the light and consider even small light source as a flashlight

528491

I ended up not getting something -- is the pain gone while using patching or also when you look at the screens without patching?

Some years ago I got into the habit of (manually) patching my left eye (the one that is always hurting) and it helped a lot. But I don't see it as anything related to team work between the eyes, it's just that for one reason or another this eye seems more sensitive, and protecting it from light will just make it not hurt.

AGI

__528491__ You may want to take an EVP test.

arturpanteleev

__528491__ now i can use my phone and laptop without patching