Question about Asperger’s and Instant Digital Eye Strain

FabiFr

Hi everyone,

I’ve been wondering if there’s a higher prevalence of people on the autism spectrum — especially those with Asperger’s syndrome — among those who suffer from instant digital eye strain. I’m referring specifically to people who either have a formal Asperger’s diagnosis or strongly suspect they are on the spectrum, particularly due to the classic traits: intense focus on narrow interests, social interaction difficulties, and sensory hypersensitivities.

In my case, I experience strong sensory sensitivities in daily life. For example, I can’t wear clothing made of anything but 100% cotton — even a 5% blend with polyester or polyamide is unbearable. I can tolerate 100% synthetic materials only during physical activity, but I have to remove them immediately afterwards. On one occasion, I was about to go for a run, got a last-minute phone call, and had to completely undress during the call because I couldn’t bear to stay in my running clothes while not running.

I also react badly to non-hypoallergenic laundry detergents. They cause itching, although I don’t get visible skin reactions like rashes — it’s more of an internal discomfort, and I’m not even sure if it’s purely physical or partly psychological.

Does anyone here share these kinds of sensory experiences? Do you think there’s a link between digital eye strain and autistic sensory processing?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or feedback

beyondthelight

FabiFr

Well first you have to understand the etymology of the word autistic, which its to be in your own world kind of, sort of like the word self-istic would mean, so are you obsessed with your self or are you just more sensitive to stuff?

in the case of the latter, I would suggest to continue following your perception and get rid of led based backlights, because just like polyester, and laundry chemicals, led backlight is also synthetic.

JOSEUISLEY

FabiFr I went to an ophthalmologist to find out about my screen-related eye pain. He told me that I don't have any eye problems, and that what's killing me is autism (neurodivergence), and that I should seek help for that. I was curious about this because I'm 40 years old and had never really considered the possibility that I might be autistic and that this might be causing me eye strain, anyway.

reaganry

i would bet most people here fit this category. temporal dithering, blue light spikes, emf, chemicals, audio distortion, narrow POV in games, all cause massive overstimulation- or trigger warning signals? - potentially in under a second. Maybe our brains interpret these "impossible/unnatural" signals as brain malfunction/overload and shut down

Sunspark

The detergent itching is probably not psychological. It's always annoying for me trying on new pants at the store, because it makes my skin react. No rash, but I can feel a sensation. It's the manufacturing residues. I usually wipe the skin afterwards with a wet paper towel and it does help.

FabiFr

beyondthelight

Actually, LED backlighting isn’t even what affects me the most — it’s temporal dithering that really triggers the issue.

Also, pretty much everything around you is partly synthetic, and a significant portion of what’s inside you is too.

All living beings now carry microplastics in substantial quantities.

If you live on the East Coast of the U.S., it’s entirely possible that a few years ago I threw my synthetic running sweatshirt in the wash — and thanks to ocean currents, microscopic fibers ended up in your testicles.

Sunspark

I do like technical clothing if one is sweating.. it's great because they evaporate quickly instead of sitting there cold and damp which is bad in the winter. I prefer cotton but it seems these days I wear technical a lot more even at home because if I sweat at night then I don't have as much of a problem of a cold and damp shirt that I have to change out of in the night.

I know autistic people have preferences that they have trouble managing so I can't say just get over it because it is just how they are, but I can say that products come in different quality levels and are woven differently. One of my long-sleeve shirts definitely feels heavier than another that is short-sleeve and is woven differently so it's worth a try looking at more expensive items.

FabiFr

Reaganry:

You’re right that most people on this forum likely experience sensory overload, but I think it’s worth pointing out that many of us have very specific neurological profiles. For instance, studies on adults with Asperger’s syndrome (now under the broader ASD diagnosis) show that 70 to 90% have proprioceptive issues and 60 to 80% report vestibular dysfunctions, with over 80% showing both when cervical issues are involved. So it’s not just about “temporal dithering” or “EMF” in a vacuum — it’s a multi-sensory integration problem that starts at the neurological and postural level.

Sunspark (about detergent sensitivity):

I can totally relate. I don’t think it’s psychological either — but I suspect it’s not just the detergent itself,but chemical residues, synthetic fibers, or even finishing agents used in fabric treatment. This actually affects me in daily life: I’ve had to start bringing my own sheets when staying in AirBnBs, because sleeping in unfamiliar laundry residues or synthetic bedding triggers discomfort immediately.

About technical clothing and jogging:

You’re spot on. I do winter jogging, and cotton becomes a problem fast. Once it absorbs sweat, it just sticks to the skin, gets cold, and completely defeats the purpose of keeping you warm — even while you’re still in motion. On the other hand, layered technical fabrics keep evaporating sweat quickly and trap heat effectively. As long as I don’t stop running, I stay warm even in sub-zero temperatures. For people with sensory issues, even fabric performance can have a huge impact on comfort

Sunspark

Merino wool base layer (or even a merino blend) is good as you probably already know because it stays warm even when it's wet. I use that in the winter because poly isn't really for holding warmth in. Merino is soft not scratchy, so some might want to consider it.

I don't travel with my own sheets (though it's an idea) but for a long time now, I DO travel with my own pillowcase and pillow (and possibly could get away with just pillowcase). It's a good compromise because the pillow is where the head is most of the time. Pillow is easy because Ikea sells these thin vaccuum-packed poly-fill pillows for $3 (a few years ago anyway) and you don't feel like you need to preserve them like you might with a more expensive one.