Have any of you gotten eye problems from iPhone/iPod/droid overuse?

[Physiologic]

OMG, I was just going to post today to ask if people were having vision problems or migraines from playing.

I'm farsighted, (not horribly but I'm a +1 on the left eye and a +1.75 on the right eye). I was not wearing glasses when I first started playing and was getting headaches, which was to be expected.

I'm using my glasses now but for the first time in 10 years I've started to get full blown migraines again. I used to be plagued with them and they went away out of the blue. Now I've been getting them really bad. I get migraines with aura and it totally wipes out my vision for a few hours. Over the past few months since I've been playing I've had at least 6 episodes of migraine with aura. Not fun at all.

So, while it's not my eyes, per se, having the migraine with aura is associated with the optical nerve, meaning that that area of my brain is being affected when I'm having the migraine. I think I'm going to have to stop playing for awhile and see if it helps because I can't handle being knocked on my butt for a few days every time my brain decides it wants to have another migraine. grrr

Ever try Imitrex? It's a medication specifically designed to treat migraines with aura. It doesn't prevent them but they have a high efficacy rate in aborting them

[Lesrider]

iPhone 4 here. That's part of the reason I use it so much -- it's so easy to use and a pleasure. I can't stand my pc now lol. My typing on a full keyboard has actually gotten really bad -- I'm super-fast on my iPhone, tho.
I mean, if not for the eye thing, I think it's better for me than a pc -- doesn't have me bending forward or sitting at a desk for hours on end. But this eye thing is really bad

Also, I asked the doc if I got the surgery, would my continued use of the iPhone cause the same problem again, but she didn't think so.
Will have to see what the specialist says, though. This is all so bizarre for me. I never imagined getting an iPhone would do this to me. And yet I'm too attached/addicted to give it up, of course.

[Zeus]

iPhone 4 here. That's part of the reason I use it so much -- it's so easy to use and a pleasure. I can't stand my pc now lol. My typing on a full keyboard has actually gotten really bad -- I'm super-fast on my iPhone, tho.
I mean, if not for the eye thing, I think it's better for me than a pc -- doesn't have me bending forward or sitting at a desk for hours on end. But this eye thing is really bad

Also, I asked the doc if I got the surgery, would my continued use of the iPhone cause the same problem again, but she didn't think so.
Will have to see what the specialist says, though. This is all so bizarre for me. I never imagined getting an iPhone would do this to me. And yet I'm too attached/addicted to give it up, of course.

It's not the phone... I think it is a condition that was passed on but remained hidden until now. The reason why people have the myth going about electronic displays damaging your eyes is because screens used to have a really low refresh rate which did in fact damage your eyes... But... The new screen technology refreshes at a faster rate then our own eyes so you don't have to worry about a screen damaging your eyes.

[Lesrider]

It's not the phone... I think it is a condition that was passed on but remained hidden until now.

Yes, that may be, but if not for the iPhone, I might never have had the problem erupt.

[Lesrider]

It's not the phone... I think it is a condition that was passed on but remained hidden until now. The reason why people have the myth going about electronic displays damaging your eyes is because screens used to have a really low refresh rate which did in fact damage your eyes... But... The new screen technology refreshes at a faster rate then our own eyes so you don't have to worry about a screen damaging your eyes.

But in my situation, I don't think it's so much what's on the screen, as that I'm staring at a small thing right in front of me for hours a day. So my eyes are getting used to looking at only things right in front of my eyes. In fact, my iPhone right now is pretty much the only thing I could look at right now without seeing double -- which continues the cycle, bc it's uncomfortable for me to look at other screens, etc, that are farther from my face. So I keep doing it. Oh and my glasses make everything worse, so if I'm looking at something close up like my phone, book, or writing something, I take my glasses off. But can't do that for anything else, bc it'd be too blurry. I thought that was bc my glasses were designed for the way my eyes used to be positioned, and now they're not fitted properly for this condition.

That was my theory, anyway. Was surprised the doc didn't agree.

[Otukura]

Your double vision goes away after a few minutes? Be careful, bc it sounds like you're developing what I got.

I do try yo hold it away from me -- but it always ends up close up again.

Hmm... A few people suggesting the rinsing -- I'll have to try that.

Yeah... I used to always have it migrate closer.. until moving it away was the only thing I thought about... I now play at arms length... a bit harder, but worth it.

[Lesrider]

So the specialist said the iPhone could not have caused my problem. I asked like 10 times. It's all a coincidence apparently. And I was so sure that's what it was....
Still not sure what's causing it yet, tho -- need more tests.

[Pandamoni]

Ever try Imitrex? It's a medication specifically designed to treat migraines with aura. It doesn't prevent them but they have a high efficacy rate in aborting them

I haven't dealt with them in so long that years ago when I got them Imitrex was not widely prescribed and then I stopped getting them so I never needed it. Now I'm reluctant to try different meds mostly because I'm a big old hippy who steers clear from meds if at all possible.

I've tried not playing as much but it's so addictive that I keep going back! lol. I have been taking more breaks, though, and I'm not having as many back to back so maybe less play is helping? I'll look into the meds further, though, if they keep up.

Les, I hope you get some answers soon. This must be scary.

[Lesrider]

Thanks Pandamoni. It is -- but my mom's the one freaking out and getting me all paranoid.

[Zeus]

Thanks Pandamoni. It is -- but my mom's the one freaking out and getting me all paranoid.

Lesrider, it's nothing to be worried all too much about. Phone screens can't really damage your eyes and eye surgery is so precise now, that there is almost nil chance of error. You will be fine, I can almost guarantee it No worries. Akuna Mattata (Whatever that Lion King catch phrase is)

[Lesrider]

Lesrider, it's nothing to be worried all too much about. Phone screens can't really damage your eyes and eye surgery is so precise now, that there is almost nil chance of error. You will be fine, I can almost guarantee it No worries. Akuna Mattata (Whatever that Lion King catch phrase is)

Actually, don't know the cause yet, so surgery is not the plan right now. Gotta do some tests to figure out what it is.

[princessbubblegum]

I'm 15 and ever since I started using my iPod a lot my vision has been getting blurry and harder for me to focus. I'm originally nearsited but now I can't see clearly at all. I'm unsure why this is happening.

[Worship]

(my eyes have problems from my laptop) My eyes have so much LED damage.. stupid of me to WASTE 5 years of my life on RuneScape.. (that game absolutely sucks, wasted my life, destroyed my eyes and theres nothing i can do about it..)

[BodMaster]

I'm guessing you didn't look at the date the last post was made Worship? Lol someone Necro'd above you.

02-14-2011,*10:24 PM

Man reading through this brought so many memories of people that have left or been banned ):

[Worship]

I can't even read in a moving vehicle without feeling like I'm gonna puke my insides out. I can't text or anything

Oh jeez I know how you feel..

[Elaine Wilson]

Oh, to top it all off, I found out today I need to have my wisdom tooth pulled. Yeah, I thought I got lucky bc I made it so far without any and thought I was safe. Nope, it's all grown in and getting pulled next week.

Fun day.

Default
Do you also have problems or pain opening your mouth wide? If so getting your wisdom teeth out might help the TMJ which in turn helps the double vision issue.
I have pain in my jaw when opening wide, could be TMD. I also have double vision when after using or reading on the iPhone. It goes away after about 30 mins.

[Muhammad Faizaan Khan]

my eyes pain bad when i watch ipod to much idk why yyyyyyyyyyy

[Zylx]

my eyes pain bad when i watch ipod to much idk why yyyyyyyyyyy

Because you are staring directly at a light source rather than on an object deflecting light. When light gets deflected, its energy is split in many directions and the light that hits your eyes is only as powerful as a fraction of the total energy from the light source.

Your device produces light as well, its an illuminator. Looking at it is like looking at a lightbulb, its complete energy is focused in all directions including your eyes. Prolonged exposure can literally burn out the delicate visual receptors in the back of your eyes causing permanent vision damage. Although phones are made with a limited amount of lumens so the light energy coming from your phone isnt powerful enough to cause much damage with moderated use. But excessive exposure could still cause eye strain and vision damage.

[Kingzila]

I am nearsighted, and normally use iPad, so nope

Same, ipad 2 though