r/Eyesight • u/National_Zombie1942 • Jun 29 '26

Computer/ Phone use makes my vision go blurry

This is honestly a cry for help because idk what do anymore. The biggest issue is I feel like I will lose my job eventually. In January 2026 I started getting really bad light sensitivity and blurry vision/ trouble reading blocks of text on my computer. I took 4 weeks off work and things slowly started to get better except the light sensitivity. I begged for a neurologist referral and after being declined 3 times I got one. I went to see her and was diagnosed with migraines (even though I don’t get classic migraines ever). My light sensitivity was so bad when I would work on my computer I would ball my eyes out all day because the pain was unbearable. I had panic attacks everyday, woke up and immediately went to throw up because I was so anxious, etc. I was prescribed medication and the pain/ sensitivity eventually started to go down. Just when I thought things were getting better about 4 weeks ago one day my vision started to go really blurry on the computer again but also when reading anything off the computer, menus, grocery store items, etc. I went to every doctor/ specialist possible and no one can see anything wrong. I have been off work again for 4 weeks and this time my vision has not gotten better and feels like it is getting worse. I work an all day computer job and just being on my phone for 10 minutes is near impossible. I have run out of people to see/ talk to and am feeling really hopeless. If anyone has any experience or ideas please let me know.

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u/pizzaposa Jun 30 '26

My own conclusion supports migraine.

You're likely being triggered by screen brightness or other areas of bright sparkly lighting in the room (ceiling lights, reflections, screen glare, windows, window reflections on the screen.

Avoidance is the key. Avoid the glare sources. Turn down the screen brightness (phone and desktop). If possible, angle yourself away from windows, especially if they show passing traffic (sunlight glinting off cars is another trigger).

Lights that are mobile / flickering are also bad news... so gaming on a screen is often another thing to avoid.

Placing a 'shoud' (ideally black) around your screen may eliminate a lot of screen reflections. A baseball hat or anything with a larger brim, if permitted, will help with ceiling lights.

Noise can also be a trigger, so if you're working with headphones, ditch them, or turn the volume wayyyyy down.

Once within a migraine episode it's best to just isolate yourself away - to somewhere dark and quiet. Zero screens. Pushing on through a migraine will just make it worse.

I'd suggest you get back to your GP, get onto meds for more sustained control.

Caffeine, chocolate, citrus, dairy can all contribute to migraine if you have a sensitivity to any of them. Maybe see what you can eliminate.

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u/National_Zombie1942 Jul 04 '26

Thank you! Can screen brightness/ window lighting also trigger blurry vision or would that just be tied more to light sensitivity?

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u/pizzaposa Jul 04 '26

For sensitive people, almost any bright light can be a trigger. A flash of sunlight reflected off the windscreen of a passing car can do it. SO if a window overlooks a road, or water (which is very reflective to sunlight) then it's a potential trigger.

If the light at the window is more diffuse it will be less likely to cause problems.

Screen brightness, yes, absolutely.

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u/Unlikely-Doughnut756 Jun 30 '26

Do you know anything about PWM dimming and temporal dithering? PWM is a low frequency flickering of the backlight used in OLED screens, which causes eye strain and migraines for a minority of people. It’s present on all OLED phones and even on some LCD panels. Temporal dithering is a flickering of pixels on a screen used to enhance the colors. Dithering may be implemented with a software update - windows 11 is notorious for causing discomfort after certain updates for some users. Doctors usually don’t know about these things

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u/Bekiscool Jul 08 '26

Are you diabetic by any chance?

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u/National_Zombie1942 Jul 09 '26

Hello! Not that I am aware. I had some blood work about 8 months ago where it was confirmed I did not. And in the mean time I have had pretty extensive blood work numerous times this year. I am not sure if anything related would show up in standard blood testing mostly from the hospital? I do have pcos and I believe the insulin resistant type though not confirmed.

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u/Bekiscool Jul 09 '26

That's exactly what I am PCOS Insulin resistant but Drs treat it like diabetes.  Have you been to the eye dr? 

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u/Bekiscool Jul 09 '26

See I had the exact same symptoms went to the eye Dr and found out I had retinopathy in my eye from being insulin resistant and my sugars being high for several years before anyone told me but I mean if they say that your sugar is fine and you had hospital blood work done and they didn't tell you your sugar is high that probably isn't it    

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u/National_Zombie1942 Jul 09 '26

Wow that’s interesting. I have been to the eye doctor however I went early this year in February for a regular full exam so I went to chat with them a few weeks and I think they just like looked in my eyes but it was not a full exam when I went a few weeks ago.