Eyestrain with 11.6" Macbook Air?

For anyone having eyestrain problems & headaches on the 11" Macbook Air, I believe I've found a solution. Upon purchasing the Macbook Air yesterday, I realized that the ultra-sharp resolution with a small screen combined with the far eye relief needed when using a computer, this actually HINDERED me from using the computer properly. I started playing around with the resolution settings, but kept getting hazy or stretched screens. I finally found that 1280x720 (720p) worked the best out of all the given resolutions. On top of that, I changed the background to a solid neutral grey which helps with the ambiance, along with using F.lux @ 4300k in my house at night, 6100k during the day and outside.

To sum it up: Try changing resolution to 1280x720 & background to solid grey color, & 4300K setting on F.lux app. Remember, this is for the 11" Macbook Air. I cannot say if this works on the 13" since I don't have one. I will say that I am still considering exchanging the 11" for the 13". I was not aware that you couldn't upgrade the memory, and the screen real estate just isn't enough for someone like me, who is a power multitasker (I work in web development). Despite the eyestrain issue being mostly fixed for me now, and the zippiness of the computer even with only 2gb of memory, it just doesn't come close enough to filliing the void of my previous macbook pro.

Hope this helps out.

Thank you for the info digital01.

My eyes feel a little better with that settings but still feel the headache . I'm going to try the matte screen protection on the top of this.

I am very upset about this screen issue. Right after using my 13 inch MBA, my eyes cannot focus well; my vision is blurred; my eyes are visibly bloodshot(people comment on this);I see halos after a prolonged use. Few nights, I woke up with a sharp, burning pain in my eyes. I have to use my laptop for 8-10 hours a day for work, and this is completely unacceptable. I've tried using flux, but no help. I am going to talk to an Apple Care rep tomorrow about what can be done.

I am using the MacBook Air 11" for almost a year now and have to say i am very happy with it. Obviously it can not to too healthy on ones eyesight to work on this machine all day, all week no matter what you do. The first and formost reason why i got the Air is its portability. When at home though i hook it up to the Apple Thunderbolt Display with its 27" and the problem is solved. I can work all day with no strain on my eyes but when i am on the road i just unplug it and can keep on doing what i am doing. Only problem...the Display is far from cheap.

The solution for me was not to fiddel with screens but go to an optician and have myself measured for a 'terminal spectacle'. That is a reading spectacle but with a focused distance for a notebook display screen (about 60 cm). That works fine.

Hello, I have experienced eyes strain and headhache with my MBA 11 since I bought it in april 2011.

I have learned this was due to the Led backlighting frequency (apparently too low) and the pusle width modulation (on long the led light stays "on" over one on/off cycle).

Lots of people in this post and others have had this same problem, and it is not only with Apple but with other led screens as well.

By now manufacturer have probably worked on the issue, increased the Led frequency and reduce the agressivity of the modulation.

Does anyone know if the new MBA 11 of 2012 has solve this issue, and so offers a better screen?

umm

very disappointed

just bought MacBook Air 2013 and my eyes are hurting me so badly

i tried flux helps a bit but still not what expected from APPLE !!!

i hope there is a real solution

I find that MacBook Air and MacBook Pro always get the problem of causing eyestrain and headache. And Apple can’t give a trustful explanation and solution. Absolutely, blue light can be the big killer. So I collected some solutions by my own. I hope it will work for you, too.

First, adjust your screen location and sitting posture. Ideally more than 25 inches from eye and 6 inches below the horizontal eye level.

Second, try to filter the glare and adjust the brightness to fit our eyes. Install F.lux https://justgetflux.com/ , which is a freeware to make your computer color automatically changed by the time of day.

Then, you can purchase a screen protector to block about 30-50% of blue light. http://www.sleepshield.com/; Or you can directly buy a pair of yellow tinted glasses. T’aime blue light glasses http://www.taimeopt.com promise to block 97% of blue light.

Not only for MacBook Air, other digital device like computer, iPhone, iPad, can also emit blue light to cause eye strain and other health problems. The best way to reduce eye strain is to limit the time staring at them.

Sadly I'm having the same issue with a brand new macbook air 11.6" 2014.

Tried to change every settings I could, downloaded and installed f.lux, runned Diagnostics, but the problem is till there. It's as if the text or screen is "flashing". My eyes and brain are in pain. Tried to call AppleCare went to Genius bar but they couldnt help me. So I guess I'll just return it to the store or sell it. I'm extremely disappointed. This was the perfect computer for me, small, lightweight with long lasting battery, and loved having Garageband, but if I can't use it what's the point... I never had this problem with any device before. I own 3 computers, 1 tab and 1 iphone. None of these hurt my eyes or brain. Seeing that there's a thread about eyestrain caused by macbook with more than 2000 posts which started in 2008 I just don't understand why this hasn't been fixed yet. However I don't understand why the macbook pro of my boyfriend doesnt cause me any of these problems.(He bought his about 3-4 years ago)

I truly hope this will be fixed soon.