Other Eye-strain while using iPhone X and up

[Abiyork]

The closest I've seen a medical professional potentially understand a medical cause of "this issue" was informed speculation that it *may* be related to photosensitive epilepsy. But that is it's own can of worms.

If this issue has taught me anything it's that from a technical perspective, an issue will have to get "bad enough" and reach critical mass before manufacturers potentially do something about it. There was some thinking in the distant past that Apple was being more conservative in delaying the introduction of OLED displays in their products to potentially do something to mitigate the flicker problems, but I certainly remember the iPhone X like it was yesterday. I think Apple has done certain changes from generation to generation to potentially alter this issue, but I wouldn't call them an outright solution.

(Sorry for repeating my story for those who read it earlier but its relevant to the discussion)

My PWM issue resulted in a strange headache, almost like electric shock and sunburn feel to my head. I stopped using the Iphone 12 pro when I realised it was maybe related (2 weeks in) and it subsided a little but was still there.

Many doctors appointments later I paid to see a private headache neurologist who diagnosed me with NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headache) and luckily he eventually found a drug that works somewhat.

4 years later and I live through the pain, although heavily suppressed with my prescription drugs.

My Neurologist was very intrigued by my story, he knew of headaches resulting from exposure to some modern technology and he attends events worldwide to speak on new findings and treatments etc.

There are experts out there who are aware of this trigger, and there are new findings for treating these rare issues (such as botox and gammacore machines, both of which are new to when I was first diagnosed)

It may still be early in the journey for the result of PWM to be seen and recognised nut it is coming, albeit too late to help us right now.

 

[techtechtech]

(Sorry for repeating my story for those who read it earlier but its relevant to the discussion)

My PWM issue resulted in a strange headache, almost like electric shock and sunburn feel to my head. I stopped using the Iphone 12 pro when I realised it was maybe related (2 weeks in) and it subsided a little but was still there.

Many doctors appointments later I paid to see a private headache neurologist who diagnosed me with NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headache) and luckily he eventually found a drug that works somewhat.

4 years later and I live through the pain, although heavily suppressed with my prescription drugs.

My Neurologist was very intrigued by my story, he knew of headaches resulting from exposure to some modern technology and he attends events worldwide to speak on new findings and treatments etc.

There are experts out there who are aware of this trigger, and there are new findings for treating these rare issues (such as botox and gammacore machines, both of which are new to when I was first diagnosed)

It may still be early in the journey for the result of PWM to be seen and recognised nut it is coming, albeit too late to help us right now.

Appreciate you sharing this story, sad to hear but important for people to be made more aware of this. Fortunately my symtpoms do subside within a day or two, it takes me just a few seconds with an OLED phone to suffer the effects though. My initial response to the OLED Oneplus One phone many years ago was vertigo so bad I had to crawl accross the floor to my desk!

I think it is incredibly poor that Apple and other manufacturers are not taking steps to erradicate PWM.

Sorry to hear how this has comprimised your health, sincerely hope you can at some point return to some sort of normality regarding this. 🙏

 

[techtechtech]

Disappointed to hear about the new MacBooks. I was thinking about picking one up. Various iPhones give me problems. I believe it was the iPhone 12 Pro Max that introduced me to PWM. iPhone 13,14,15s was fine. iPhone 16 is by far the worst for me. I felt sick immediate after opening it up.

Interested to know what phones you used before the 12 Pro Max, I came from 8 Plus and went to the 11 Pro, couldn't even look at it for a few seconds without feeling pressure, nausea etc. Have switched to a standard 11 since and of course this is fine. Really not sure what to try next, interesting you find the 13,14 and 15 fine, makes me think it could be worth me trying one of those.

 

[gigapocket1]

Interested to know what phones you used before the 12 Pro Max, I came from 8 Plus and went to the 11 Pro, couldn't even look at it for a few seconds without feeling pressure, nausea etc. Have switched to a standard 11 since and of course this is fine. Really not sure what to try next, interesting you find the 13,14 and 15 fine, makes me think it could be worth me trying one of those.

I used the x, 11 Pro Max with no problem.. 12 Pro Max, 16 Pro Max, and 1 other that I can't think of right now I couldn't use. No problems with the 15 Pro Max

 

[techtechtech]

I used the x, 11 Pro Max with no problem.. 12 Pro Max, 16 Pro Max, and 1 other that I can't think of right now I couldn't use. No problems with the 15 Pro Max

Appreciated, I wonder if the 11 Pro Max differs from the 11 Pro, the latter just triggers my issues immediately. Totally bizarre how some people get triggered by the complete opposite models. Case of testing models for conclusive outcome.

 

[Abiyork]

Appreciated, I wonder if the 11 Pro Max differs from the 11 Pro, the latter just triggers my issues immediately. Totally bizarre how some people get triggered by the complete opposite models. Case of testing models for conclusive outcome.

And crazy that prior to my headache story above I used an Iphone X for 2.5 years without any issues.

 

[techtechtech]

And crazy that prior to my headache story above I used an Iphone X for 2.5 years without any issues.

There often seems very little logic to this problem, no doubt about that. Seems polar opposites with regards models between different people also! one person fine with an X and not with 11 Pro, others total reverse.

 

[now i see it]

I think a lot of people could use the iPhone X in the beginning because it was the first OLED iPhone ever and their nervous system hadn't been thrashed yet by staring at flickering OLED screens.
But as time went by, they became sensitive to the insane OLED flickering - and couldn't tolerate it anymore - and by then new models of iPhones replaced the X.
Thats one theory anyway.

Betcha the PWM sensitive today who say they could use an iPhone X without problems back in the day, would find the X unbearable if they looked at one now.

 

[jtl_]

I think a lot of people could use the iPhone X in the beginning because it was the first OLED iPhone ever and their nervous system hadn't been thrashed yet by staring at flickering OLED screens.
But as time went by, they became sensitive to the insane OLED flickering - and couldn't tolerate it anymore - and by then new models of iPhones replaced the X.
Thats one theory anyway.

Betcha the PWM sensitive today who say they could use an iPhone X without problems back in the day, would find the X unbearable if they looked at one now.

I think I heard of someone who was hospitalized(!) from having a photosensitive seizure triggered by an iPhone X.

In light of that a study comparing the modulation of newer OLED iPhones and other devices as well (e.g using an oscilloscope and fancy math) might be interesting.

 

[GlenK]

Sorry to see that but maybe that's what it's going to take for Apple to get off their asses and fix this!!!

 

[Abiyork]

Sorry to see that but maybe that's what it's going to take for Apple to get off their asses and fix this!!!

We need someone high profile, not just any commoner like us lot.

Maybe we can club together and pay for a famous actor and try and bring down the Apple empire 🤣