Hi MagnuM ,
I have a very similar symptoms I think. I will share here as I've been struggling with these for more than 4 months now, and this could help others:
I started a programming job in a startup end of 2015, and worked on my Samsung laptop 7/7 for 3 months non-stop. Then around Christmas 2015 I felt so bad in my head and realized that I couldn't look at a computer screen (or my phone screen) without feeling very dizzy and totally unable to focus.
I left my job in the startup the next day (it was quite a lot of stress actually) and went to hospital to do a brain scan (CT), nothing! Then I did eyes check, they diagnosed a little astigmatism (0.25). Then I checked the ears (with a sound test) and they said that I probably had a vestibular neuronitis (maybe stimulated by stress, but this is said to be "multi-factorial").
So I tried to re-organize my life to make it healthier and more balanced (as that's the main advice from doctors when having vestibular neuronitis). I tried to completely stop looking at the screen, also started regular sport, and did more social activities (friends, etc).
I was getting better, and after 1 month away from the keyboard, I started a new job. Programmer again, but only 5/7. As soon as I started to look at the computer screen again, the symptoms came back:
- very difficult to focus when looking at the computer screen (after 15mn).
- NEW SYMPTOM : light sensitivity from the big window on my right. I had to cover my eyes with my right hand!
- NEW SYMPTOM : sound sensitivity, and for a few days, skin sensitivity.
I thought I would have to quit after the first week, as I couldn't do any reasoning in front of my computer (and coding is mostly about logic and reasoning !!!). But I didn't quit, here is what I did:
- Continued to do sport, have social life,
- Stay away from computer/phone in the evening and in the weekends,
- I also bought a Kindle to look at programming books, as I could perfectly read on a Kindle (no headaches or uncomfortable feelings).
- Turned to almost minimum my laptop screen brightness (even though I read that with low brightness, the backlit will flicker at lower frequency...go figure...).
and little by little, after 3 weeks (beginning of march), I could start to feel better 2 or 3 days per week. Often it worsened at the end of the week (which was really depressing, as I often thought I was done with the problem).
So here I am! It's been two months in this new job, and I'm much better for sure if I compare with 4 months ago when all started. BUT, if I compare with the normal me 8 months ago, I'm still handicapped, no doubts.
I think I have a neuronitis stimulated by computer screen (so I think it's the combination of two problems).
I wish I will recover much better, and here is what I plan for the future:
- I'm gonna buy a non-PWM Dell monitor U2515H and see If any improvements (flicker free, and bigger size to display bigger font).
- If no improvements, I'm gonna see an ophthalmologist and see if there is any exercise I could do with my eyes to release the problem (I'm not sure if there is smth to release actually).
- If no improvements, I will try wearing glasses (to correct my astigmatism, and also to filter blue light etc).
- If no improvements...well, I don't know, but I'll continue to fight, to get my vision and brain back.
I'll give some updates here. Thank you all for sharing your experience.