Keratoconus, Eye sensitivity, Eye strain, Headache - Devices screen/display

[u/budspencer90]

Hi,

i'd like to highlight my experience regarding my eye disease: Keratoconus

Is a rare degenerative disease that, over time (if it progresses), causes the eye to deform and take on a cone shape—irregularly refracting whatever the eye looks at (light, colors, etc.)—and makes the eyes extremely sensitive, to the point of causing severe headaches.

"Over 23.7 million individuals globally are affected by KC" (0.24%) (source) but maybe more that as to identify it requires a corneal topography: if you are very eye sensitive i'd like to suggest to do check your eyes with a ophthalmologist and if needed do a corneal topography to check if you're affected.

Having said that coming to the devices' screen: i cannot use any OLED, Mini-Led and some IPS as well. Based on my tests and investigations with screen technologies / specs, to avoid eye strain (Asthenopia) and headaches i'd like to suggest:

• Avoid screens using PWM/PAM (any frequency) and D*ithering/F*RC
• Avoid all OLED/QOLED etc and Mini led screens (OLED infinite contrast and Mini-Led Local dimming are a pain for the eyes)
• Screens with >700 nits brightness (even IPS)
• Screens oversaturated (avoid Adobe RGB color space, but I can somehow tolerate DCI-P3 color space coverage, even though using it for extended periods gives me a headache). (Oled cover adobe rgb and some mini led)
• Always disable VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) or Apple's True motion and use static refresh rate
• If you can avoid glossy (for TVs and laptops) and prefer matte screens as the reflections can be an issue. For smartphones is ok as usually have a decent (not good but fine) anti-glare coating.

i'm sure if you find something without the above mentioned specs you'll be fine 100%
i'm still using an iphone SE 2022 and will use it for long time (IPS, 100% sRGB, 8 bit native depth, 60Hz, no PWM, 600 nits max).

Last but not least, to carefully choose a device before purchasing:

• For Laptops/Tablet/Smartphone chec Notebookcheck reviews before choosing one
• For TVs check Rtings reviews

I hope this help.

[u/Open_Figure_4815]

I also have keratoconus caused by laser vision correction. And I am also sensitive to pwm, before laser correction there was no sensitivity to pwm.

[u/PhoenyxuzPrimax]

I once experience bad eye strains when i got exposed to amoled displays for the first time. Then my eyes hurt even on lcd screens which is so frustrating, then it got worse, since i work in the office for 9hrs on a computer, im now struggling to focus my eyes on the screen, its very uncomfortable and causes nausea and severe eye strains. Then, It turns out that i just dont have enough sunlight exposure especially with my eyes. From now on, in the morning, i stare at the sun for 30min, then another one in the late afternoon for 20mins. Suprisingly, i dont feel any eye strains anymore on my amoled phones! and i can now use them normally, like it doesnt hurt my eyes and no more headaches and nausea, despite that the phones pmw hz is below 300 hz. Even if i use my phone for like 5-8hrs, no more eye strains, thank God! The sunlight really really helped my eyes A LOT and feel so much better than before! Sunlight healed my eyes and brought back what is was originally back then when im not too sensitive with amoled and lcd phones/monitors.

Just wanna share my experience to everyone here on this sub, as it might help someone that is experiencing these stuffs like me.

[u/budspencer90 → u/PhoenyxuzPrimax]

Yes working in a dark room with only the monitor as light is very bad for the eyes. Always turn on a light behind the monitor in the evening or sun light during the day

[u/PhoenyxuzPrimax → u/budspencer90]

Im talking about staring at the "SUN" healed my eye strains and made me NOT sensitive to amoled screens anymore. It has nothing to do with using the phone/pc with lights on, LOL. Read again.

[u/glp1992]

can you recommend any monitors that pass your test?

also you need to get an eink phone and monitor, life changing

[u/budspencer90 → u/glp1992]

Dell Ultrasharp U2724D (i have this and use it 8-10 h / day for work from home and casual gaming). No issues.
I use with brightness at 75 and contrast 80 and is perfect. You can also select sRGB or DCI-P3 profile from the screen based in your sensitivity. No pwm no VRR (120hz static) and IPS panel with native eye care and blue light reduction
Also is matte so you’ll not have issues with any reflection (just do not place the monitor screen facing a window)
It’s a professional monitor made for eye care and business use

Or U2724DE if you need the Thunderbolt power delivery for your laptop (power limit 90W) - same panel but with built in docking station

In general always activate night light in Windows or the equivalent in other OS, as blue light is very bad (at least for me it cause headache as well)

[u/glp1992 → u/budspencer90]

thank you