Inability to look at screens. Can’t even glance at them.

[no_screens_31]

Hi everyone I’m new here and joined because my boyfriend has been suffering from an unknown condition and it seems like we can’t find anyone else who has gone through/is going through a similar thing and it has been so debilitating for him. It’s to the point where he can’t use any form of screens which is why I am the one posting for him.

The main symptoms are a pressure in his head, a cold melting feeling when he gets “flashed” by a screen and after getting “flashed” a lot his head gets cloudy, his thoughts are less coherent, he stumbles a lot on his words and his mood decreases exponentially.

There are also weird things such as cold showers and tight hats triggering the above mentioned symptom.

He has had an ECG which came back normal, MRI which shows small blood dots in his parietal lobe and a white matter lesion in his frontal lobe but the neurologist he has doesn’t think they are significant. He has never had a recorded concussion or brain injury but he has been in car accidents in which he hit his head with the person beside him and cracked that persons skull. An EEG also ruled out seizures.

Some of his doctors think it could be a functional neurological disorder and that there might not be a physical cause.

He also experiences symptoms like visual snow and shadows “moving” in the dark. Not sure if it’s correlated at all.

He has tried blue light filter glasses and FL41 lenses and they do nothing. He can’t go anywhere without someone to guide him to avoid screens and constantly walks around with his head down as to not accidentally see a screen. We are desperate to find anyone who has/is experiencing this!! All resources and advice is welcomed!

[bridgeit]

Some of the symptoms you describe could fit with injury-onset migraine. You'd need a doctor to confirm this (I'm not a doctor).

Some types of migraine can be complex and continuous. If that's the case, low dose amitriptyline might help; but please don't regard this post as diagnostic. It's just a layman's suggestion, nothing more.

Also, might be worth visiting a chiropractor, a good one, to see if there's any sign of neck whiplash injury, which can happen in an instant of any impact or sudden and forced movement of the head. Neck whiplash can also cause a myriad of strange and unpleasant symptoms. It needs attention if it's present. A good chiro can diagnose and treat whiplash.

Hope this is helpful!

[no_screens_31 in reply to bridgeit]

Thank you so much for your reply! He has already tried amitryptaline and didn’t seem to help. He has also tried other anti-depression meds and migraine medication and nothing but we haven’t thought of a Chiro and will definitely look into. Thanks again!!

[Gordo6500 in reply to no_screens_31]

Hi Go to BrainCare.com and read about the Omega3 protocol. I couldn’t look at a computer screen or any other screen when I came home from the hospital. My eyes would skip lines rapidly when I would try. After two weeks on the Omega3’ s that stopped we need to feed our brains what it needs after injury. It’s been 8 months now and I have no fatigue, headaches or problems looking at screens, now seeing a specialist to check my eyes and ears for balance issues , hope you can overcome your issues soon.

[pinkvision]

This is really common, visual sensory overload. The precognitive processing of visual information at the occipital lobe. Unfortunately the NHS having lacked funding and research is out of date by three decades in considering these issues. However the Maudsley hospital in south London provide testing. It's for psychiactric patients but also deal with brain injury. The other option is to go private and see an optometrist, make sure they understand brain injury, not all of them do. There is John Glover in Stockport. You can also check the web page of BABO, the British association of behavioural optometrists, key in your details and it should show you optometrists near you. Again phone and make sure you explain it's for brain injury. The other option is to go to the US, to the mindeye institute in Chicago or the Padula institute of vision if you can afford it. Good luck.

[pinkvision in reply to pinkvision]

Get the book 'The ghost in my brain' by Clark Elliott. Just reread your post, sounds like multiple issues, tension over the skull, as Bridgeit says a chiro or physio can help. Make sure they understand brain injury/whiplash issues. Visual processing as above, and maybe look into getting a neuropsychology test to find out what the functional neurological issues are. I have plenty of posts on 'visual weirdness,' on this site. Life was pretty mixed up when I wrote them but you may find commonality. The good news is that it's all fixable.

[no_screens_31 in reply to pinkvision]

Definitely will look into that book and your posts thank you so much for your reply!! We have thought about traveling (we live in Canada) but definitely want to exhaust our local options first. Thanks again

[pinkvision in reply to no_screens_31]

Karen Monet in Ottawa for optometry. If that's a long way from you then just phone her and ask for a recommendation. Also St Josephs hospital, London, Ontario. Probably the best PCS unit in Canada. They have developed a world leading paradigm that treats the issues rather than the general health paradigm that contains the patient. Also check out the concussion foundation legacy, run out of McGills in Montreal for information. That should get you started. Good luck.

[no_screens_31 in reply to pinkvision]

Thank you so much!! We will for sure look into these places

[sashaming1]

Could it be a form of a seizure? Flashing lights can be an issue.

[no_screens_31 in reply to sashaming1]

Already ruled out seizures with an EEG but I do think the flashing has something to do with it (then again I’m no doctor of course)

[New_beginning]

I know it sounds basic, but has he had eye test as no mention of that from medical description. Sounds awful and hope you get answers soon. All the best

[no_screens_31 in reply to New_beginning]

Thanks so much! I should’ve mentioned it but yes eyes checked and he has a mild astigmatism and got glasses but hasn’t helped at all unfortunately

[Butterfly1315]

Hi I just read your post. I have functional neurological disorder and have similar problems. I see black dots in my vision and have a sensitivity to light which I think made me unable to see screens properly. My vision has been altered. I m currently on medication (antidepressants and Rivotril) which have helped. I am able to look at screens after taking them and also taking up sports and incorporating sport into my life as a necessity. Going outside is still quite tough, I have good days and bad days, I think it's my brain trying to adjust to the light.