Retina Display MacBook Pro eye problem and strain

I'm a Macbook Pro Retina (mid-2012) owner and I started having the symptoms that your described as well as double vision since this May. I had my screen changed back in the summer of 2013 due to burn-in and both times I got LG screens. Although I got rid of the burn-in effects of the previous screen I did notice that my eyes get tired more easily with this new screen. Perhaps there is a direct causal relation between the use of those screens that don't have burn-in and the increase in likelihood of eye strain?

Lowering the brightness certainly helps but no matter what I do my vision gets blurry after more than a couple of hours of use and then it would become impossible to have a sharp focus on anything I look at for the rest of the day. On good days I can sit in front of the MBP Retina for up to four hours and if I take a long break (more than an hour) and come back, I can do another two or three hours but this is rare. The thing is I also own an iPad (3rd generation), which is equipped with a Retina screen (by Sharp I believe) and I never have any eye-related problem with it (even with extended use).

I conclude that this is most likely a problem that's unique to LG manufactured Retina screens and perhaps people who read this can confirm it for us afflicted with this condition?

The problem has become so intolerable that I placed an order on an early 2013 Samsung LCD screen (so as to avoid the new IPS technology) yesterday. I'll keep you guys updated on whether the situation improves with the Samsung screen.

Hi guys,

I have tried the AOC E2476VWM6 monitor.

Unfortunately.. it did not work for me.

I could look at it for a few minutes longer than a regular LED monitor, but that was it.

My guess is that an LED screen emits so much blue light that even if you reduce it by 90%, it's still too much.

I guess I will have to stick with my old LCD monitor for the foreseeable future.

I've found that the only way I can look at an LED screen is by putting on amber colored anti-blue light glasses.

So, it's either that or a CCFL-backlit LCD monitor for me.

I had high hopes for this anti-blue light technology. But now I see there is no way to make an LED screen harmless..

So, if you're curious you may want to to try out this monitor yourself.

But I wouldn't expect miracles.

Cheers.

I find that I can look at LCD screens longer. This problem probably isn't unique to Retina screens but they most likely accentuate the problem since all Retina screens are LED screens on top of high in pixel density. To conclude my findings so far:

1. Lowering ambient light helps (especially by avoiding light sources directly in front of the screen that contribute to glare).

2. LCD screens help (Samsung Syncmaster S24C750P in my case).

3. Kindle Paperwhite helps. I can look at for four to five hours straight without eye fatigue.

4. Rest every hour for 10 minutes and do some eye exercises can delay the onset of fatigue by an hour or two.

I find that in my case eye strain is especially bad in the morning. This probably has to do with ambient light being too bright. For people with severe cases of eye strain I recommend a dual screen setup and set your external LCD screen as default and only use the Retina on you MBP when absolutely necessary. Try not to look at computer screens the first thing in the morning. Look outside for a good 30 minutes before turning on your computer.

Hi,

I too have no problems with regular LCD screens.

I can look at an LCD screen all day long without any eye discomfort.

In my experience, TN LED screens are bad, and high-resolution IPS LED screens are worse.

But I can't look at either for more than a few minutes.

It helps a little if I run the f.lux program, but not enough.

But I find that I can look at LED screens comfortably if I wear blue light blocking amber colored glasses.

But I don't really want to wear those glasses every time I use the computer.

So I will just have to keep using my old LCD monitors.

This is sad. I would like to use the new high-resolution IPS LED monitors, but I just can't look at them.

I have given up.

Not even amber-colored glasses work.

Not even AOC's anti-blue light monitor works.

I tried using the AOC monitor with amber-colored glasses on. It worked for a few days, but not any more.

Now my eyes feel like they're getting beaten with a stick..

I have also started experiencing double-vision, and my eyesight has deteriorated markedly.

I will stop looking at LED monitors immediately.

Hopefully my eyes will recover.

From now on, I will stick with CCFL-backlit LCD monitors as long as I can, and look at LED/AMOLED screens as little as possible..

Hi Everyone,

I just bought a new macbook pro w/ retina display 15" running Yosemite, and I was experiencing the same extreme eye strain that everyone here has mentioned. I kept fiddling with the display settings to see what might help and I made a discovery. When you go to system preferences and select "displays" and then select "color" you have the option to select "sRGB IEC61966-2.1". Now when I selected it I didn't notice any difference in the screen immediately, but my eye strain was significantly reduced while reading text on my web-browser. I thought I was imagining it so I had my roommate switch between both the standard "Color LCD" option and the sRGB option without telling me which he had chosen and although the screen looked exactly the same, I could tell when he selected sRGB within 15 seconds simply because of the reduced eye strain while reading text on my browser. Even he could tell the difference. I have to test this over a few more days to be sure it completely eliminates the eye strain problem (I just discovered this tonight) but please try this and let me know if it helps!

Best,

I also have definite eye-strain I did not have with my previous screen, and I noticed an immediate improvement when I did this.

yes i have the same problems too. it just pain fully to watch the screen. but i usually feel it when the brightness is on maximum. nowadays i put 4 block for brightness and feel much better thou 😀

Hello,

Once I moved to LA I did two major things, purchased a 15" MBP Retina Display and moved to a new home to finish my B.S. in engineering. Right away I noticed an eye floater beginning to develop and now after 14 weeks, I am pretty sure the MBP Retina Display is the result of this eye floater. I used the computer very regular since most of my readings were on eBooks.In the pass month I seen the doctor and the optometrist as a result of the eye floaters, but they could not determine the issue. I switched back to a 5 year old laptop and my eyes are improving. After taking an upper division ethics class, I think the lack of public awareness on this issue is a violation of engineering code of ethics. Going to speak with my friends lawyer and see what course of action I should take.

I have the same problem like yours. Do you think if I change my macbook to another macbook with no retina display, then this problem could be solved?

I bought a new monitor that is flicker free (no pulse width modulation) and use it with my macbook pro retina. You can find lists of which models are flicker free online. A lot of brands have them. I don't know if it's the fact that it's a new monitor or flicker free, but my eyes feel a little better using it.

For me, this problem is HUGE! I got an iMac 27" retina display thinking it would be the best choice for my eyes, and after 5 months, I can hardly stand to be in front of the thing. At first I thought I was just working too hard, but, no. When I use my 2012 laptop I can work as long as I like. With my retina display desk top, I get intense eye strain, eye pain, headache that last hours after I quit. Have lowered the brightness, and now lowering it even more to less than 50%. Bought anti-glare, blue blocking computer eye glasses for $75. About to go to Apple and make some noise. It hurts!

I am having the same exact problem using MBP15. It's awful. Thanks for posting this.

Hello all

I have had exactly the same problems most of the people are describing in this forum. Since I bought my Macbook Pro Retina in october 2015, my eyes never were the same. Terrible strain, headaches, pain, unbearable sensitiveness to light. I've had to give up using the incredible machine I was so happy to have acquired, but haven't recovered a relaxed vision yet.

I've consulted various eye doctors, optometrists, changed my glasses, put amber filters on lenses and screens.

I have been an Apple client for many years now and think Apple should take these issues people are expressing very seriously.

It's become obvious that many people all over the world cannot work with Retina screens and experience serious eye damage.

Please Apple, give us an answer.

Ditto here. Been using a Macbook Pro 13" w/ Retina display for a couple of years now. During that time I've noticed my night vision get considerably worse, and sometimes my eyes hurt/ache after working for more than an hour or two on my MBP. Been since checked for the typical eye issues by my optometrist at my annual checkup (cataracts, glaucoma, etc.) and nothing unusual was found. The issues seem to fade when I don't use it for a few days and/or use an external monitor (various non-Retina displays). It occurred to me that the biggest variable in my day to day life with regards to vision was this laptop, and here I am...

MBP displays definitely seem to be particularly brutal in terms of blue light, so I'm wondering if that could be a culprit. I'm not sold on the whole "blue light is harmful" thing, but something's sure up. I'm seriously considering abandoning MBPs (and perhaps all 2K Apple displays) over this.

Also, to Capitalkid: you're over simplifying all the factors involved with LCD/LED displays. There's more to it than image clarity. Flicker, frequency, wavelength, etc....things that are undetectable in casual use...can all play a huge part in eye strain.