Hello everyone! My name is Artur, and I used to be an active member of ledstrain.org. In the past, I faced significant challenges with my eyes due to prolonged exposure to modern screens—laptops, monitors, smartphones, and the like. This was detrimental to me and my life For more details about the problems I encountered, you can read: Update from Win11 21H2 to Win11 22H2 leads to eye strain and Temporal dithering is not the only one software eyestrain trigger . If you've read my story My success story about one eye patching after 10 years of suffering, I win! you'll know that after a decade of battling, I found success through eye patching. Though it wasn't an easy journey, involving several attempts, I emerged victorious. Now, it's been around nine months since I overcame my health issue, and I want to share some observations and offer bits of advice. Whenever I acquire a new device or operating system, I initially experience the same eye problems and symptoms as before. However, I only need 2-3 weeks to adjust to the new conditions and comfortably use both eyes. If I choose to use a new device immediately, I can manage it with one eye patched (the adaptation period is about 1-2 days, during which I might experience some eyestrain and headaches, albeit not as severe as with both eyes). Over the last nine months, I trained my eyes using various versions of Windows, Ubuntu KDE, MacOS on MacBook Air 2023, and two different Android smartphones. I often used patching to watch TV in a hotel or enjoy movies on a projector when visiting friends. Presently, I consider myself a healthy individual in terms of my eyesight. I confidently use all modern devices without fearing job changes or acquiring new TVs, smartphones, or laptops. It's a fantastic feeling. I hope anyone who has faced similar eyestrain problems can comprehend the significance of this achievement. An essential point: once I've managed to use a screen with both eyes, the positive effect lasts forever. To date, I haven't encountered a situation where a device became problematic for my eyes again(after a course of patching). This is very reassuring! However, there are no discovered methods to kill eyestrain apart from patching. Despite reading numerous topics on this and other forums, I haven't found any other viable solutions. Here are some pieces of advice and observations on things that DON'T WORK and AREN'T WORTH your time: Seeking a magical device that's perfect for your eyes. There's an infinite number of requests seeking recommendations for eye-safe devices. I understand the desire to find this magical solution, but unfortunately, reality doesn't operate that way. There's no modern device that will suit everyone's needs. You won't find a solution this way, no matter how many requests you make for reviews about the latest Android version or the newest MacBook model. It's a sad truth. Relying on doctors for help . There aren't many individuals who experience our problems. Have you ever met someone with a similar issue in real life, not just online? I haven't. Therefore, there's little hope that the medical or scientific community will address our problem and conduct investigations, as we are an insignificant minority to them. I spent considerable time and money on optometrists but received nothing substantial apart from advice like "Avoid excessive TV watching and take frequent breaks." I'm frustrated with them. Believing that large companies like Apple, Microsoft, or Google will intend to assist you . They face the same issue as the previous point. I reached out to the support teams of every company I know and most ignored my concerns. The few who responded provided generic, unhelpful replies, showing no interest in my problem at all. Searching for the cause of technology . Many people believe they know the cause of their problem(they usually mention temporal dithering, PWM, etc.). However, after experimenting with various settings and using devices from the same production batch, I haven't made any significant discoveries. I tried a lot of tweaks, advanced system settings, alternative drivers, tuning GPU with bios, etc. Several individuals conducted in-depth investigations but yielded no results. In my opinion, discovering the true reason would require a considerable investment of time and money. Unfortunately, no one will make that investment. The primary reason for writing this article is to show that many guys have traversed their path and overcome eyestrain problems to return to normal life, thanks to patching. If you haven't succeeded previously, I strongly recommend giving it another try. Ultimately, you have nothing to lose (except a few days of headaches), and if successful, you can attain a brand new level of life. Happy New Year to everybody, I hope my article will help to motivate somebody and these attempts will lead you to a happy and healthy life!

which eye do you patch? the dominant one?

arturpanteleev Hi, I’m glad to hear that this is helping you. I want to try also patching. What is involved in this process? How you patch one eye? For how long time in a day? How long time in a week? Do you take breaks?do you path both eyes or only one?

Still patching daily myself, been the better part of 2 years I think? Still works, still enables me to keep my career. But I am not having any of the "curing" effects of the OP. If I take the eye patch ff and look at an offending display, all my symptoms come back. I've accepted the fact I will likely be patching for the rest of my life.

ensete It could be an issue with the trigeminal nerve. It has to send and receive information at the same rate otherwise issues occur. My doctor has a patient that is a programmer @ Microsoft which he gives her a medication to stimulate the nerve which allows her to use screens again. Another trick without med is using an electronic tooth brush and placing it on each side of the nose. Supposedly doesn't always work as the medication is stronger. I haven't tried either yet.. was told if it doesn't work the medication could make you feel crazy temporarily otherwise I'd try it

9 months of a happy life after eyepatching

jordan

Where im getting at is I wonder if the eye patch allows people to use screens since it's information from one eye only. Maybe stimulating the nerve could help people that benefit from the patch? I'm no doctor just a thought

bisk89

arturpanteleev Can you tell us more about your patching? How long you patching with new devices to accommodate? Do you making any breaks, or maybe when you sit in front of new device you stay still, but for how long? Are you patching only one eye? Or maybe you are switching your eyes? If yes, after how long? If you can, please be precise in terms of time, how many hours, per day, how many days? Etc. I’m patching for about 1h and switching eye. I find out that is better for me to close one eye than patch. How about you? But still I’m able to use device with both eyes for about 1h, sometimes 1,5h and cannot longer. Maybe i need to patch for I don’t know 5h with one device? Please share your thought's. Thank you in advance

arturpanteleev

reaganry yes, I covered the dominant eye. But honestly i suppose that there is no any sense which one you cover

arturpanteleev

twomee u can read all the answers here https://ledstrain.org/d/2258-my-success-story-about-one-eye-patchnig-after-10-years-of-suffering-i-win/40

arturpanteleev

@"bisk89"#p31644I think you shouldn't change the eye that you started to patch. If you can't more than 1.5 h start with this time a try to make a new best result every day

Lauda89

jordan Do you know the name of the medication? I am using the Fluxarten and allow me to use the MBA 15"!

jordan

Lauda89 that's incredible! I unfortunately don't remember the name but if I see him again I will ask! It's something that stimulates trigeminal nerve. Can't remember if it was oral or a nose spray.

ocean10

jordan Were you ever able to find out the name of the medication you mentioned? Also, what kind of doctor are you seeing that is treating people with screen symptoms?

Maxx

@arturpanteleev I have almost exactly the same story as you, but now after being "cured" for one year, my symptoms came back.

So now I'm back to patching. This is really really weird. I've tried to think what could be the trigger, but there seems to be none, or what was the cure. I don't think Paching cured me. My eyes just spontaneously went to the previous state after some 8 moths.

arturpanteleev

Maxx did you change the used device or not? Maybe the software was updated?

ensete

Maxx The older you get, the lower your neuroplasticity and the harder it is for you brain to change and adapt to things. It's not surprising that your condition reverted to it's earlier state.

Just wear the eyepatch when you need to.

ensete

jordan The trigeminal nerve is the "pathway" to trigger the migraine. Nerve blocks, medications, or other external devices (can't say I've heard of a toothbrush) can block signals going through the trigeminal nerve and prevent th migraine from setting it. Important to note you are not actually preventing the problem at it;s source, your brain, you are just interrupting the signal to trigger the response.

All that said I would never choose to take a lifelong pharmacuetical medication over wearing a dollar eyepatch

jordan

ensete

I haven't looked into how it works but not saying your wrong. I just know my eye doctor said stimulating it helps eye strain with individuals that cannot use screen. One of his parents used the medication but found out the toothbrush method works as good and doesn't cost money. He said some people don't respond to the brush the same as others. People use the toothbrush method for dry eye too I think?

What worries me about the eye patch is that your training your brain to use one eye and overtime I feel like that would screw up the binocular function of your eyes. Or surpressing one eye over time ? 🤔

ensete

jordan What worries me about the eye patch is that your training your brain to use one eye and overtime I feel like that would screw up the binocular function of your eyes. Or surpressing one eye over time ? 🤔

I had the same concern and have asked this of multiple neurologists and vision specialists and every single one said there is no risk of any harm from patching long term. The only thing they said was if patching while driving you need to be more aware due to the loss of peripheral vision in the patched eye. They all agreed it was far safer than any sort of medication as well. I asked.

and for @ensete, could you please keep out of my discussions. You have had nothing to offer except the fear mongering and "look like a pirate for the rest of your life there are no other options". If you want to stay miserable, stay miserable, but don't offer others the advice of being miserable.

No. I will continue to share my opinions and give responses to people based on my experience and the results I get from various treatments. If you don't like it, take a hike.

Maxx

@arturpanteleev no changes in devices nor software. It must be the covid since symptoms started after covid. Also, I'm thinking it was the covid or the covid vax (I'm not anti-vax) the 1st time around.

Also, during the recovery of the first "tilt" I gained the best aerobic fitness that I've had since 20 years. Now I'm in pretty bad shape after covid, so let's see if it improves when I get adequate weekly Zone 2 and HIIT and Gym.

jordan

ocean10 hey I haven't went back to him at all. I think he's just a optometrist but he seems to dig around and finds things to help dry eye/eye strain. The other thing he does is gives patients diluted atropine to take at night so by the morning it's either worn off or almost worn off but supposedly the relaxation to the eye still remains. Ive tried this but unfortunately got a reaction to atropine so stopped taking it. Didn't fix anything but made my eyes feel so relaxed. I am sensitive to dithering so I don't think any medication is going to fix that unfortunately

Jo09

I tried to patch an eye, I tried but I was very stunned and my vision was dark for at least 5 minutes each time I used it...

I gave up when I saw that a guy on youtube had tested the thing for 30 days and by the end his eyesight had fall...

hansennnnn

Jo09 can you give me link youtube ?

nilghias

arturpanteleev finding this discussion feels like it’s opened my eyes so much. For the last few years I’ve had so many issues with screens, to the point where I worry so much about buying any new devices. I could never figure out what type of screen caused me issues, since the screens I own and can use all seem to be different so it made no sense.

Until I read this and figured out the connection was that I’m used to all these screens. It’s amazing but it all makes so much sense now!

I ordered a steam deck which is due to arrive next week, and I’ve been googling tips to help prevent eye stain on it, which is how I found this site. I’ve used patches before because I have convergence insufficiency which I’m sure is why I have this screen issue too, but I’m going to order a proper one (I had a home made one) to use when my steam deck arrives and pray it works for me.

I can’t thank you enough for talking about this and sharing your story. I’m so glad it has worked for you and I’ll be hoping it works for me too.

Jo09

nilghias It's one thing to use a patch for web browsing or texting, it's quite another to use it for gaming... You risk tiring your eye very quickly... I'd advise you to go very slowly at first, because I think you'll soon realize that it won't be as easy as you think anyway, and that fatigue and irritation can happen very quickly when playing video games.