Working with Computer Monitors

[FabledPilgrim]

For work I spend a lot of time in front of monitors and I've always felt that my facial redness/rash gets worse the longer I'm sat in front of them. I don't have itching or pain but it gets hotter, redder and aches more on top of the usual light related headache.

Is this fairly common with Lupus? If so, I thought it was only UV light that triggers that not just any kind of light. I think mine are LED backlit.

[Spanielmadlady]

Photosensitivty is common in lupus especially when taking hydroxchloroquine. Fluorescent lights and windows are another issue.you need to wear factor 50 + even this time of year

[Cathyan]

Hi FabledPilgrim. I'm sorry to hear about your computer monitor issues.

This has always been a problem for me. I used to have a 3M monitor screen which gave some protection but I lost it a year ago. I then bought a screen from lowbluelights.com from the US which sits over my Mac screen and it is a huge improvement, but colours everything orange, including your image on zoom calls ( I have to prop it lower so the screen doesn't cover the camera).

Recently I bought an eInk writing tablet (think kindle like screen but twice the size) which can be used to read pdf documents, make handwritten notes, and email OCR conversions of those notes. It's called a reMarkable, invented in Norway but shipped from China). You can't surf the web with it - it's advertised as a distraction free device. There are other eInk tablets available now, such as a range from Boox Onyx, also from China, and they do give web access and Android apps work on them I believe.

Even more recently (this month) I bought a Dasung Paperlike HD, which is an eInk secondary monitor, available from China. It connects to my Mac. I turn the Mac away from my face and use an accessory keyboard and mouse. I haven't got the settings and resolution right but it works well for writing and editing documents in Word. I have had double vision issues for 3 months from a lupus flare and this screen has also helped me get back to being able to work on a screen again (together with a prism in my glasses).

All these devices are very expensive and attract shipping duties/VAT. There is a UK firm that has recently appeared, set up by optometrists I believe. It's called ocushield and they focus on blue light protection screens. I bought a screen cover for my iPad from them and it definitely helps but doesn't eliminate the problem. I've found it reduces the touch sensitivity very slightly.

I always use 2 layers of UV 50 sunscreen when I'm on a normal screen but don't need to for the eInk screens.

Hope there is some helpful information in there. All these solutions are so expensive and if you're looking for a workplace to pay there might be issues with the start-up nature of the companies that produce these devices. I'm ill health retired so have had to pay for everything myself. It's only a small inheritance that has allowed me to buy the reMarkable and the Dasung Paperlike HD.

[FabledPilgrim]

Thanks for the comments.

Hidden I work from home so the equipment is my own but I hear what you're saying and there are definitely things I can do to mitigate the harm they do to me.

Cathyan Those are some good tips right there. I hadn't thought of using E-ink technology but it makes perfect sense. I'll be giving a lot of thought to this in the next few months. I've used apps and programs for years to cut out blue light, etc which do help but I feel that I need something more. I've even been looking at the light filtering glasses which may be a more affordable first step. Appreciate your suggestions.

[Cathyan in reply to FabledPilgrim]

You’re welcome FabledPilgrim. If you do go down the Dasung route feel free to message me about suppliers. Or check out the eInk forum of Reddit. There are also forums for Boox Onyx, reMarkable and Dasung on Reddit.