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Eye pain/strain only when looking at screens?

Posted , 71 users are following.

unknownTous
unknownTous

I'm 19 and have been very active on computers and other screens for many years and never had any problems. I have glasses for 10 years with no problems. I got my prescription updated over a year ago and had no problems, as usual, until about 5 months ago. One night while on the computer I started to feel a little strain like the screen was a little too bright. That had happened in the past very rarely so I didn't think much about it. The next day it got worse and I started having eye pain after about ten minutes of looking at my monitor (keeps in mind I've looked at monitors for hours before with no problems like this). For two weeks, I couldn't stand to look at ANY screens. TV, computer, phone, etc. I had to use my phone and PC occasionally but could only tolerate it when the brightness on these devices was completely turned down. The pain was like having really dry eyes but when I looked at a screen, I could feel a pain shooting through my eyes (mostly my right eye but still in both.) After two weeks, it got a little better and I could look at screens some, but the brightness has to stay low and it still hurts some more days than others. It's been 5 months and it won't go away. I've been using drops for severe dry eyes and it seems to have helped a little but not much.

NOTE: I went to my eye doctor a few days ago. He checked my prescription, focusing range, and looked into my eyes (but he didn't dilate them). He basically said my eyes were perfectly fine and told me to take breaks every once in a while when using a computer and pushed me out the door (in a manner of speaking). I've been taking huge breaks and limited my use to 1-2 hours a day and still I have the same pain.

What should I do? I start college for a tech degree this fall and it hurts to look at screens. I'm in a deep depression now because I can't find relief and I need to know how to fix this. I know there's something wrong with me, I just don't know what. Should I get a second opinion? I've read that if your eyes are really dry or something, you could have a tear or do some kind of damage and need to put antibiotic ointment on your eyelids to help repair them. I don't know if that's true but I friend described my problem to his eye doctor out of state and that's what he said. And I've read it in a few places online. 

It would mean the world to me if anybody would lend their advice. I'm so close to  just giving up and hope I can be happy in another career & routine that doesn't involve as many screens but it's making me miserable.

7 likes, 80 replies

80 Replies

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  • nicola29959
    nicola29959 unknownTous

    Posted

    Hey unknownTous, I suffer from this exact same problem. I have been to three optometrists and was given spectacles but didn't help as I am speaking now I no longer wear the spectacles because they do not help. The last optometrists I went to could not see anything wrong with my eyes, I like passed all the tests and despite telling him that I have severe pain when I glance at a computer for a long time and brightness affects me tremendously he simply gave me some eye drops saying its because maybe my eyes are dry. I am glad I came across these when I was searching on what possible could be the problem. Please, could you help me by sending the links that could be of importance. Thank you in advance

    • juanita43819
      juanita43819 nicola29959

      Posted

      Hi, Nicola, I wanted to let you know I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia after having MRIs done to rule out brain tumors. I am receiving steroid shots in the back of my head to help with my nerve inflammation. This has helped the headaches to stop almost completely but my right eye still hurts after looking at my phone for even a few moments. I have started covering it with an eye patch while using my phone to avoid the pain I feel in my eye socket.  Just the right eye hurts which is strange to me. My headache doctor says it will get better and has prescribed muscle relaxers to help with my head and neck pain. I hope this helps you. 
  • francisj
    francisj unknownTous

    Posted

    This has been an issue for me for the past year. Could someone please please send me those links aswell some adviced i need to follow. Thank you so much.
  • francisj
    francisj unknownTous

    Posted

    Im having a tough time even typing this message. Please pm me. Thanks
    • sagarcasm
      sagarcasm francisj

      Posted

      how exactly is your problem .... your sharing could help me ..
  • sagarcasm
    sagarcasm unknownTous

    Posted

    hi unknown tous i am in deep pain . i work for insurance company and have to work 8 hours on pc. but last year after watching continous movies on my laptop for about 3 days non stop, now my eyes cant even tolerate 5 min of laptop screen. i cant even read newspaper or any book for more than 10 minutes. its been a year now . cant watch tv even. my company is about fire me as i cant work on computer . could u please send me those links and tell me about those exercise .can i do vision therapy exercise at home because i cant find any vision therapist in my state. anyone out there pls guide and help.
  • art59682
    art59682 unknownTous

    Posted

    I've had this problem for the past 2 and a half years.  It started all at once, not gradual at all.  I wast meeting a software development deadline, doing 10+ hour days, up all night (a couple 12-16 hour days), then my eyes started to hurt so much I could barely open them for a week and was unable to drive at night for a couple weeks.  Bright light at night became painful.  After a month, my eyes were somewhat better.  The first doctor I saw prescribed computer lenses and some over the counter eye drops.  After 6months my eyes recoverd to a point where I can work at the computer for ~4 hours a day without pain, but this is not good enough for what I need and want to do.  I've seen 5 different doctors, and the most they say is to try different eye drops, gel drops...  actually the last doctor, who was a retina specialist and did a very thorough exam, said my eyes are only "slightly dry".

    Vision therapy sounds like it might be the solution.  Please send me the link.  After 2 1/2 years of constant pain preventing me from pursuing computer science as I once did (pain free), I am DESPERATE for a solution!

     

  • dezum
    dezum unknownTous

    Posted

    Hello,

    I just went to Wilmer Eye Institute yesterday because I have been diagnosed with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion and wanted a 2nd opinion. A month or so aho I couldn't stand to look at my phone, TV, co. screen, etc. He told me it may have been due to some inflammation going on in the back of the eye. Interestingly it just went away on it's own but it was VERY scary. He said probably unrelated to CRVO but if I were you I would DEFINITELY get to an ophthalmologist. It may be something simple but your eyes are nothing to avoid checking into. Keep me posted!

  • jitendra07540
    jitendra07540 unknownTous

    Posted

    Dear All,

    Unfortunately, I am also same problem from last 3 months. Consulted 4 eye doctors and they couldn't find anything abnormal in my eyes. Also changes eye glasses but no help. Any advise shall be very helpful to me. Regrds

     

  • a75251
    a75251 unknownTous

    Posted

    Hi! Thank you for your post, I have the exact same problem and symptoms and you are the first I have heard of describing it clearly.

    Could you PM me useful links as well?

    Thanks again!!

  • krits98565
    krits98565 unknownTous

    Posted

    Hi, unknownTous. I am facing the same problem here. I have been in this circumstance for 2 and a half year and I feel really bad about it, after this happened everything turned upside down. I can not even look at any screens e.g. phone, TV, laptop- life is so miserable. Really need your help T T., if you have any advice or treatment please help T  T.
    • lawrence83871
      lawrence83871 krits98565

      Posted

      remove your contacts and use glasses. feel free to paypal a donation if i fixes your problem
  • ashutosh64528
    ashutosh64528 unknownTous

    Posted

    After 5-10 Mon continuous glaring at screen eye pressure develops behind my head and I start too much yawning.If I continue staring at screen my back of the head becomes very stiff and a time comes when I am not able to focus on screen.Also if I do too much screening more than 10 mins I can't sleep and it is difficult to read text. Due to eye pressure sometimes it is difficult to close eyes and give rest to it.I have to lay on the bed for more than 8 hours to reduce the eye pressure

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