iPhone X iPhone X Headaches

[Brian Drummond]

I recently purchased an X and have been using it for over 4 weeks now. Last Wednesday I had a terrifying experience whilst driving, whereby, my vision became kaleidoscopic and since then I have experienced mild dizziness, imbalance and mild head pain which resulted in me being tested for a TIA.
Thankfully all tests proved inconclusive but I feel this phone may have contributed to my experience? I've had an iPhone for almost 10 years now and I don't ever remember them giving me head pain and discomfort like this one.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

 

[Newtons Apple]

Why do you think your phone is cause of your problem?

Just because the test were inconclusive does not mean that your phone is causing this problem.

 

[TimoAlegrio]

I have the same problem and unfortunately there is no solution. After four weeks, my iPhone X is now for sale - unfortunately, the sales value of used iPhones has not developed positively. Because of this problem and the loss of value I'm pretty annoyed by Apple. I would like to use the device, but it does not work..

 

[keysofanxiety]

I recently purchased an X and have been using it for over 4 weeks now. Last Wednesday I had a terrifying experience whilst driving, whereby, my vision became kaleidoscopic and since then I have experienced mild dizziness, imbalance and mild head pain which resulted in me being tested for a TIA.

That's quite extreme. I can't reasonably see how a phone would cause that.

 

[Wyckham]

Mushrooms?

I read something about an issue with OLED screen flicker which can cause this though so I guess the X screen technology is not compatible with all humans.

I wonder what extra damage an OLED screen does to humans who dont notice this.... quite concerning.

 

[Phone Junky]

I have the same problem and unfortunately there is no solution. After four weeks, my iPhone X is now for sale - unfortunately, the sales value of used iPhones has not developed positively. Because of this problem and the loss of value I'm pretty annoyed by Apple. I would like to use the device, but it does not work..

You had 14 days to return.

On a side note. A macrumors member for almost 3 years and this is your first post? How is that even possible?

 

[TonyK]

OP, what about a migraine? I've had one in my life that I know of and it is not the typical massive headache one. It was visual and I had a multitude of colors in front of me while driving. It did cause some dizziness.

This was some years back (maybe 3 now) so not X related for sure.

My wife has had migraines for years and is not related to any technology. Some migraines are triggered by food or environment.

 

[DNichter]

Not sure how a phone would do that, but do what you need to do. If it hasn't happened in 10 years, not sure why it would start now.

 

[anubis1980]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/eye-strain-while-using-iphone-x.2085427/page-31#post-25681465

 

[KriStellar26]

I agree with the other poster - this sounds like an aura migraine. If the phone was the culprit I'd think it would happen earlier than 4 weeks after starting to use it. I get the aura migraines myself and they can be like that. Mostly just feel worn out after, but eventually mine started turning into full-on painful migraines following the auras. Unfortunately there is no definitive test to diagnose them. I even had an MRI to rule out anything more serious. That's all you can do.

 

[themarriedmommy]

I recently purchased an X and have been using it for over 4 weeks now. Last Wednesday I had a terrifying experience whilst driving, whereby, my vision became kaleidoscopic and since then I have experienced mild dizziness, imbalance and mild head pain which resulted in me being tested for a TIA.
Thankfully all tests proved inconclusive but I feel this phone may have contributed to my experience? I've had an iPhone for almost 10 years now and I don't ever remember them giving me head pain and discomfort like this one.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

I’ve been going back and forth between iPhone and galaxies for years. The last time I went to galaxy s8 I started feeling eye strain and then headaches. I returned it and went back to an 8 plus. Strain slowly subsided. Headaches went away. Not sure if it depends on the actual phone as I’ve had other amoled phones and don’t recall this happening. Point being it’s probably the phone.

 

[Sir Ruben]

I'm at a complete loss as to how you came to the conclusion that the iPhone is somehow responsible for a sudden random health issue you experienced whilst driving your car.

Its possible for all screens to cause eye fatigue after staring at them for some time, but this, this is something else altogether.

 

[KriStellar26]

I'm at a complete loss as to how you came to the conclusion that the iPhone is somehow responsible for a sudden random health issue you experienced whilst driving your car.

Its possible for all screens to cause eye fatigue after staring at them for some time, but this, this is something else altogether.

If I recall correctly there was a LONG thread previously linking migraines/headaches to the iPhone X screen. Auras are a form of migraine headaches. I don't understand all the negativity in the responses. If you can't help, why bother to respond?

 

[BigMcGuire]

If I recall correctly there was a LONG thread previously linking migraines/headaches to the iPhone X screen. Auras are a form of migraine headaches. I don't understand all the negativity in the responses. If you can't help, why bother to respond?

My guess is people relate this to the "cancer" scares that people relate to phones. Just like when a cellphone tower gets built, it stays off for a few months, but the city will still get tons of people who think they're affected by the "radiation" and what not. Probably relating this to that? There's a lot of misinformation and people who have no clue what they're talking about on the interwebs - a lot of unnecessary paranoia.

I definitely look at this in a skeptical light. I've used a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for years and never once had this happen (SOLED screen).

(Just answering why this would be suspicious) - my best guess .

I missed the massive thread of X users having these problems - can anyone link it?

 

[Sir Ruben]

And he had tests performed, they were inconclusive/negative. So he is asking for others' experiences. Why is this a bad thing?

Um because he has used the phone for 4 weeks, then he has a completely separate episode (which sounded fairly serious) whilst driving his car and states "I've had an iPhone for almost 10 years now and I don't ever remember them giving me head pain and discomfort like this one" - really??

 

[Mlrollin91]

My guess is people relate this to the "cancer" scares that people relate to phones. Just like when a cellphone tower gets built, it stays off for a few months, but the city will still get tons of people who think they're affected by the "radiation" and what not. Probably relating this to that? There's a lot of misinformation and people who have no clue what they're talking about on the interwebs - a lot of unnecessary paranoia.

I definitely look at this in a skeptical light. I've used a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for years and never once had this happen (SOLED screen).

(Just answering why this would be suspicious) - my best guess .

I missed the massive thread of X users having these problems - can anyone link it?

It’s near the top of this thread.

 

[MICHAELSD]

As somebody who’s been experiencing eye strain from iPhone X I sympathize with OP and believe this was likely caused by the PWM utilized by the display.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Um because he has used the phone for 4 weeks, then he has a completely separate episode (which sounded fairly serious) whilst driving his car and states "I've had an iPhone for almost 10 years now and I don't ever remember them giving me head pain and discomfort like this one" - really??

So let’s get this straight. You think he is making up the story, but on the other hand you point out the very large thread of everyone having issues regarding the phone. Seems you are contradicting yourself.


I wore regular glasses for a year. Never had a problem. I switched to prism glasses for my left eye. Everything was fine for a week or two, but then I developed a migraine that wouldn’t go away. Literally the same thing OP is going through. Is my story now suspicious as well?

 

[Sir Ruben]

So let’s get this straight. You think he is making up the story, but on the other hand you point out the very large thread of everyone having issues regarding the phone. Seems you are contradicting yourself.

No, I am saying that eye strain whilst using your phone is completely understandable and normal, but how this ties in to a more serious sounding medical event when the guy was driving his car. I'm not seeing the connection here.

 

[Mlrollin91]

No, I am saying that eye strain whilst using your phone is completely understandable and normal, but how is this ties in to a more serious sounding medical event when the guy was driving his car. I'm not seeing the connection here.

Maybe he was using maps. Glare hit the screen which triggered something with his eyes/brain that he had not experienced before with previous iPhones. That is a proximate cause and a connection.

 

[jav6454]

No, I am saying that eye strain whilst using your phone is completely understandable and normal, but how is this ties in to a more serious sounding medical event when the guy was driving his car. I'm not seeing the connection here.

Because, once again, there isn't. His own doctors said no conclusive evidence the OP even has the condition. Like I stated earlier, OP should visit a specialist and have more thourough exams than coming onto an internet forum.

 

[BigMcGuire]

It’s near the top of this thread.

Wow I did miss that - thanks!

 

[KriStellar26]

The symptoms he experienced are very similar if not identical to some of the auras I have had. All related to migraine headaches. Which again have been tied to the iPhone X screen. Someone else already provided the link to the thread. He had tests performed, so I imagine this is not cancer or anything serious. While an aura is not a life-threatening medical condition, it is definitely scary to experience for the first time. Especially while driving!

 

[newellj]

As somebody who’s been experiencing eye strain from iPhone X I sympathize with OP and believe this was likely caused by the PWM utilized by the display.

Picked your post as a convenient hook for a reply, please don't take this as personally directed.

My question for the OP and others theorizing that this was caused by the X: how likely is it that PWM, which we do know can cause eye/head aches, would suddenly, after four weeks, cause such extreme symptoms?

I'm not a neurologist, so I don't know whether this sort of deferred extreme response is possible, but to an ordinary person it seems less than likely.

If it were me, I'd be on the phone with my PCP (which it seems the OP has already done) and looking for a specialist consultation.

As a final thought, if you do switch phones and the symptoms never happen again, don't fall into the logical fallacy post hoc ergo propter hoc.

 

[barjam]

PWM is used everywhere. TVs, lights (LED and fluorescent), monitors and so on. For folks that are having an issue with the iPhone X does literally living in the modern world at all give you a headache?