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Computer Eye Strain (Severe Problems)

Hi

I need help badly.

I have had computer eye strain problems when working with  LED, LCD screens and also any kind of gaming since a young age.

But things became really bad since the age of 25. I'm now 32.

In the last 12 months I have been to an ophthalmologist - cleared me with no problems, went to a neurologist and did an MRI - no issues. Tried over 7 pairs of different glasses without luck. I cannot find out how to fix my eye strain problems which I will describe below.

My symptoms are as follows. If I sit in front of a computer screen for up to 25 minutes I develop severe eye strain which results usually results in pain by the optic nerves of both eyes. This then extends to my head which causes pains/head strain by my tempel, round the sides of my head, on top of my head and at the back of my head on the top left and right areas. Its like a terrible, painful strained nerve pull which last for days all over my head. It honestly makes my whole face severely pale with back rings around my eyes due to the nerve strain and makes me look like I have a terminal illness. and even if I quit digital devices it can last for days.

I cannot sleep sometimes because of the dull/sharp pains and it weakens my whole neurological system from head to toe. I cannot exercise and my ability to do anything diminishes until the pains and strains go away.

Its extremely severe and I was wandering if anyone has any idea of what it could be or what other scans I could go for.

I was told to do a PET scan by someone - any advice is greatly appreciated.

If it helps, the chronic medications I have taken in the past - escitalopram x 1 year, Roaccutane x 2 years
4 Responses
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177275 tn?1511755244
Both of the medications you take (or have taken its not clear if you are still on them) can cause eye problems that could account for your symptoms.  Roaccutane can cause severe and irreversible eye problems, many references to this on the internet here is one:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1301795

So if you are still on the acne medication suggest you review this with your dermatologist and ophthalmologist.  The antianxiety medication, like all of them, can cause dry eye, dry mouth and trouble focusing.

So let's start out by clarifing whether you are still on roaccutane.   And second what these 7 pair of glasses were for distance? reading? computer? no line bifocals? Myopia? Farsighted?  Have you been told you have dry eyes? Have you been told you have convergence insufficiency?  Can you read a book comfortably for a hour?
Helpful - 1
3 Comments
Thanks for the reply. Please see my answer below. Glasses were also primarily for pc use.
Thanks for your help and recommendations. Greatly appreciated.
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233488 tn?1310693103
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
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Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Look up trochleitis, trochlear migraine/headache or trochleodynia. It may be what you have. It took months and the best neurologist to diagnose me. Mine also started after longb hours of data analysis and editing on computer and has not resolved in over a year yet has gotten better. Steroid injections and Fioricet have saved my sanity. The only thing that really helps is staying off a screen, but in this day and age it’s rather difficult.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks. Will look into this.
Avatar universal
Hi. I took roaccutane for 10 months in 2002 and then again for 10 months in 2004. antidepressant called zytomil taken for 13 months age 30-31. I am not on any medications now. The 7 pairs of glasses were to used in the hope to minimize eye strain with little effect. Orange tinted, yellow tinted, blue blockers and more to no success. Been through over 100 bottles of similasan eye relief but not effective anymore. Opthamologist said no problems and told me to use year drops which were useless. I also have eryhrocytosis. Not sure what to do and so desperate for an explanation to this extreme sensitivity to screens and debilitating pain I get in my eyes, head and weakness in my body.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
Your symptoms could be explained by dry eyes. There is a well publicized epidemic of dry eyes in young people due to so much time being spend on 'screens"  See (among many)  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/smartphone-use-using-risk-of-dry-eye-disease-mobile-phone-social-media-facebook-optical-health-a7513051.html

My suggestion would be to see an eye MD ophthalmologist that specializes in cornea/refractive/external eye diseases. Explain severity of your symptoms, discuss going on restasis or xiidra.   Also practice "screen hygiene"  your favorite artificial tear in eye before sitting down in front of a screen, looking up every 10 minutes look at something as far away as possible and blink hard 10 times. All the things that bother you are associated with dramatically slower blink rates.
Its been 4 and a half years and I thought to give an update.

Since this post I actually saw another ophthalmologist and also another neurologist on the issue. Both could not help and the eye doctor said no detected problems. My symptoms have stayed the same and actually may have gotten worse in the last 4-5 years.

One thing I did not mention - These painful symptoms also flare up worst when I am exposed to any kind of video game gameplay (PC games, playstation etc) and they develope very quickly and can last for days once again.

Interestingly, I did an experiment with 4 family members where they all stood in small room and looked at a video game that my nephew was playing for about 20-30 mins or so . None of them got any eye strain or headache pain at all when watching. Not only does it cause significant eye pain and head pain for me, it was even triggered by standing near but not directly facing the screen in the room. So what on earth does this mean? Do I just have a sensitive nervous system? EMF sickness sensitivity? Possibly neurological damage from roaccutane that causes this eye pain/head pain problem? Unfortunately I live in a third world country and we have poor quality neurologists and doctors in general so I have given up on doctors here.
Since you have had the problem for years and no progressive permanent, adverse vision or health problem have developed , it is unlikely a threat to your life or sight.  I cannot offer any additional insights. I'm sure everyone including you and all the doctors you have seen would say, to the extent you are able, avoid things that 'set it off'.
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177275 tn?1511755244
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