Eyes ache from OLED

K-Moss

Currently I can't use any screens without my eyes aching. It must be from my OLED exposure as late. As I've suspected, OLED can make intolerable otherwise tolerable IPS LCD displays. The same displays I've used previously without any issues before introducing OLED. I'm guessing it will take a few days before I go back to normal.

I believe we need a break from OLED before doing proper testing on LCD screens. What do you think?

Any other anecdotes to share?

I read someone saying OLED made his eyes feel like they were dipped in acid.

jorgerm1706

K-Moss

I experienced EXACTLY this. The day I got a new OLED gaming monitor was the day I developed severe insomnia and couldn't sleep. This continued for every night that I used the OLED, which was about three nights of barely any sleep at all. I would feel this wide awake feelign and strain in my eyes which continued when I tried falling asleep in bed, which caused me to stay up all night.

K-Moss

Anyone else here with the acid symptoms from OLED?

sir

Not exactly the same issue as yours. But yes a stinging sensation and sensitivity to monitors I normally feel fine with.

A bigger problem for me is the almost instant nausea that persists for 2 days after even 10 min of using oled monitors/ tv, older amoled are completely fine for me.

So do not panic it will pass after you stop using them. At least it did for me. Tested 10 woled /qd oled monitors/tv all of the ones produced in the last 7 years reck my eyes / digestion / sleeping patterns and any contact with their light no matter how brief reset the symptoms to the max again.

ITwebs

There seems to be a priming effect for most strain causing screen or lights. Like, if you are exposed to LCD with temporal dithering or oled screen with low pwm, then it seems that you will become less tolerant of other screens.

sir

Thankfully dithering makes my eyes just slightly unconfortable when the monitor is set brighter than 40-50 nit. Its the 120hz and up oled, and pwm led that completely murders me. Really weird.

But I can see that tiny light flicker of the oled when I focus my eyes near the screen same with dithering, non of the other people I asked could see it so I guess my eyes are just better/ wiered diffrent.

K-Moss

sir Have you tried Moto Edge pOLED screens? Surely they aren't as bad as most. They use DC dimming with flicker prevention enabled. There's still flicker, but it's much lower modulation than occurs with PWM.

jordan

K-Moss Ive been using a edge 30 fusion on off to view photos and such lately with flicker prevention on I dont seem to be getting triggered like my xiaomi 13t would. I still use a mudita kompakt as my main phone and try to avoid LED in general. I know the 13t dc like dimming instantly triggered symptoms but not the moto.

sir

I did not, but I am wrighting this from galaxy tab s4 oled tablet and I can look at it for 10h with no symptoms. So I can belive oled = nausea is not entierly true at least for me.

Only the new models after galaxy tab s4 cause the symptoms I checked. They did something to the newer devices that is really bad for my eyes.

So the phone you mention can be ok. Too bad all the oled monitor an tv make me sick for days.

K-Moss

jordan Someone using an Edge said it ruined his life by dramatically increasing sleep onset and reducing sleep quality. Said his problems were fixed once switching to an IPS LCD phone. Have you had any sleep issues from your Edge or you don't use it long enough for any issues even if they were to occur from heavier use?

I do think Motorola's pOLED is almost as comfortable as LCD for many at least when flicker prevention is enabled. There is no PWM, only the refresh dip. That's about as good as you can get with OLED except that the modulation depth could be lower. Therefore, the modulation is worse than LCD, but there are other factors for eye and brain issues, and it's hugely beneficial going from a PWM-based OLED screen like a Samsung to a DC-dimmed OLED screen like a Moto Edge with flicker prevention.

If a Moto G 2025 has a modulation depth of 5% at 100% brightness and a Moto Edge is at 18% for 100% brightness, it is possible the Edge still could be more comfortable for some users since 18% is a well-contained modulation dip that likely doesn't cause any issues, and other factors differentiating the Edge's pOLED screen from the IPS LCD on the G 2025 could improve the relative comfort of the former. I say this because there is some theory OLED is easier on the eyes than IPS LCD. It seems at least conceivable to me a well-executed pOLED screen could be more comfortable for certain people vs IPS LCD.

I tend to think using a Moto Edge only during daytime and as a light to moderate user that even sensitive people will not have any issues, but I can't say for sure because my experience is limited, and some insist even Moto Edge models have not worked for them.

If you can tolerate comfortably Motorola's pOLED, the Moto Edge 2025 and Moto Edge 60 Pro both give gorgeously good phone experiences. For using a phone primarily as a phone, they are fantastic. Also I've encountered many heavy users who can use Moto Edge models for great lengths of time without any apparent issues.

Also see my Edge 2025 thread here: https://ledstrain.org/d/3821-edge-2025-through-16000-shutter-speed-photograph

jordan

K-Moss Hmm I havent noticed any sleep issues yet unless its the cause of weird dreams lately and also sleep paralysis ? I try not to use the edge much though.

I remember right away on the 13t with dc like dimming it felt like my brain was boiling but I dont get that with the edge. The only thing with the newer motos is I think they use temporal dithering when you dont have vivid color mode set.

K-Moss

jordan Moto G 2025 uses no dithering on any setting. There are two phones I suggest for sensitive users, the G 2025 and the XP Pro by Sonim. The XP Pro is better but considerably more expensive. For me the quality improvement is worth it. However, the G 2025 should work for most as well.

jordan

K-Moss I am very anti IPS as every IPS display has instantly fried my brain. If someone that has past bad iphone lcd experience that finds the sonim comfortable then I would consider trying it

K-Moss

jordan You have had concussions or something that makes your brain unique? I've never heard of IPS instantly frying anyone's brain. You mean like eggs on a fry pan? Help me understand what you mean?

For me the XP Pro is benign. No symptoms. I get some eye stinging on other IPS LCD phones. The XP Pro has 4X thicker Gorilla Glass, so maybe part of the comfort can be achieved by using a glass screen protector on the G 2025?

There's a user on PWM_Sensitive who can't use anything for the most part, but does fine with the Moto Stylus 2023 (IPS LCD).

jordan

K-Moss I have had concussions but I dont think its causing these issues as theres plenty of others without concussions or neck injuries with the same problem. Its a figure of speech lol, I get instant head pressure, wired/anxious feeling, nausea, sensitive to noise/certain colors, and other weird symptoms. Oh and instant dry eye. I never had a phone that made my eyes sting, just eye pressure if anything and of course blurry vision.

I actually had a moto stylus 2023 and it immediately didnt feel good.

K-Moss

jordan I suggest you find a way to obtain a Sonim XP Pro. If that doesn't work, you are one in a billion.

My XP Pro is the most comfortable screen I have.

K-Moss

jorgerm1706 Any similar experiences from any other OLED devices, including OLED phones? It would help knowing the exact model of that gaming model so we can do some research and analysis.

jorgerm1706

K-Moss

Yes it was basically any OLED. and my gaming monitor was the "MO27Q2 GIGABYTE 27" 2560 x 1440 QD-OLED 240Hz USB Type-C Gaming Monitor"

jorgerm1706

Update* My insomnia went away the exact day I stopped using OLED, sticking with IPS

ensete

Type of monitor has never been an issue for me. I would try and focus on what the OLED screen is doing, vs just the nature of it being an OLED screen. Colors are a big trigger for me and OLED screens are going to render colors differenly

Refresh rate can also trigger my symptoms (which are BVD, I am not affected by flicker or dithering)