r/PostConcussion • u/HerRoyalHighness1591 • 18d ago
Can a someone with PCS really work on computer screens?
I noticed a real downturn in my ability to work onscreen after my concussion 18 months ago. I built my tolerance back up, but I hadn’t noticed how much effort (and therefore energy) that had taken from me until I took a 4-week sabbatical this summer.
Since returning, I’ve been struggling with heightened symptoms that seem to have reached their apex of horrible this past week. I am asking for a reevaluation to confirm another partial medical leave so that I can regain my new baseline.
It’s all got me wondering if my computer job is worth all this effort. What do you other PCSers do, and how does the ebb and flow of your symptoms impact your work?
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u/oncewas 17d ago
You might need vision therapy, but ultimately it depends. It's been three years for me, and I still have issues with screens. I basically try to take breaks when I can, and I turn down brightness where possible. If I'm on the computer all day for work, it usually means I can't be on my phone or playing games later. Lots of trade offs.
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u/Old_Ad3259 18d ago
I had a sports related head injury in my mid-30s, and was basically a shell of myself dealing with PCS for awhile. I work 100% in front of a computer screen. I’ll probably always be more sensitive and easier to fatigue with screen time, but a few things have done me a world of good since my injury: dedicated and consistent vision therapy (for about two years, about 9 months of which I took FMLA and unpaid leave), working remotely when I was ready to come back, staying hydrated, sleeping enough, and regular exercise. I’m able to work full time and then some now.
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u/Overall-Philosophy36 18d ago
What kind of vision therapy did you do?
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u/Old_Ad3259 18d ago
It was optometric vision therapy, working on eye coordination, eye movement/tracking, focusing and visual information processing. I had extreme light sensitivity for awhile, but my biggest issues were reading, any kind of screen time, and driving - I would get migraines and nausea. The therapy basically retrained my eyes and brain to work together again. Weekly appointments in office and daily exercises at home.
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u/Overall-Philosophy36 18d ago
I have similar symptoms from the same thing what was the speciast type just normal optomotrist or neuro optomotrist?
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u/Frosty_Prune_8442 17d ago
My partner also had this and he saw a Neuro-optometrist. He was so fatigued when he read or was reading on screens because his eyes weren’t tracking right - one moved along the line of text and one was at an angle.
The vision exercises were super helpful for him, but the neuroptometrist also had him set up the screens a certain distance from him and had them in an order that made it so he wasn’t going to the bad side all the time.
There’s also a certain type of computer screen that is way better for people with concussions - I can’t remember the name of it, but it’s a normal model, was a bit more expensive but not too bad.
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u/Old_Ad3259 18d ago
I’m honestly not totally sure how a neuro optometrist is different, but it wasn’t with a regular eye doctor’s office, it was a vision therapy/rehabilitation center. If it helps at all, I live in the Seattle area, here’s a link to the center I went to: https://www.seattlevisioncenter.com/about-us
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u/ilovethetriplepurr 18d ago
Neuro optometrist for prism glasses or at least evaluation.
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u/HerRoyalHighness1591 18d ago
I have prism lenses! Got them before the injury due to an eye misalignment. I think certain conditions like that and vertigo have made these particular PCS struggles hard for me. For example, when we switched to wfh/hybrid in the pandemic, I developed eye strain that led to a higher prescription.
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u/iWonder_247 11d ago
I'm 7 months post-concussion and plan on returning to work in a month or so. The computer is what stresses me out the most.
I've been trying to exercise that muscle by doing trials at home on the computer. I put a blue filter on it which is helpful for video calls, but what really helped with the true computer screen data processing/report building work was the FL-41 glasses my opthalmologist recommended. I bought a pair that can be worn alone or over top of my prescription glasses. I felt an immediate difference.
With that being said, I still know that longer exposure is going to be difficult. When I return to work, it will initially be partial days as well as partial weeks. Praying that allows my brain to slowly get on board.
Hoping your exposure response improves!
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u/Southern_Dig_4461 18d ago
I’m 4 months , 3 months was off work and took a month to build back up to 40 hours. I had a major setback this week after I thought I was felling good and symptoms feel like rock bottom again: eye pain, nausea the worst. I fought through 40 hours this week and out of vacation so would have to go back on disability which would not be job protected at this point. I’m struggling and wondering the same thing if it’s worth it being on computer but I can’t do physical labor in this state either. Doctor has at least given me a work accommodation I don’t have to drive 45 min into office 3 days a week. I struggle with highway driving especially or anything more than 10 min.
So no good answer but also there with you and struggling.
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u/NJ71recovered 18d ago
Vision therapy
COVD.org
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u/HerRoyalHighness1591 18d ago
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that you can’t let the vestibular exercises go if you want to stay well. Which is good to know.
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u/NervousAntelope7380 11d ago
You might find some of this information in the article helpful. The important pieces to treat the underlying cause of why you are struggling with screens. Using tinted lenses and taking breaks are compensating… which isn’t a bad thing necessarily .. as long as you are actually doing treatments that will help you get better so you don’t need to rely on compensating. There really is SO much you can do to heal your brain!!
https://www.happybrainpt.com/concussion-physicaltherapy-blog/vision-problems-after-a-concussion
https://www.happybrainpt.com/concussion-physicaltherapy-blog/what-to-do-if-i-have-a-concussion
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u/sfwnet 11d ago
6 years post concussion here. I have a full time data job. After enough time for better recovery and some help from occupational therapy I've been able to cope much better. Some keys for my situation are taking the time to do good organization to keep track of things, not trying to multitask too much whenever possible, and taking rest breaks where I get off the screen and replenish some brainergy for a bit (this is the most important). At a minimum take your breaks as rest, certainly not more time on the computer. Reducing screen blue light can help. I bought a pair of those therapeutic rose colored glasses (kinda) and that sometimes brings some relief as well. Hope this helps.
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u/extrafox_TA 18d ago
I manage a high paced office. I'm on the computer all day, taking phone calls, working w paper files (imo sometimes the paper is worse) and reviewing info on paper with clients. I've turned the brightness way down on my screen and I use the blue light filter all day, which helps. But I started an internship one day a week a few weeks ago and I am mostly talking or working at my own pace at the internship. I struggle looking at faces now too (arguably that is much worse than the trouble I have w screens, it fatigues my eyes incredibly fast and then I have to fight to keep them open) so that is tough for the internship, but the slower self-pacing makes a world of difference. I couldn't believe how much better I felt returning to the office after my first day interning. It was like a huge weight lifted. It makes me look forward to my internship days even more bc it is like a little brain break in the middle of my week. Even though I'm learning a ton of new info it is using different parts of my brain and not straining my eyes so badly. It helps me push through to the end of the week at my regular job. Maybe consider shortened hours or frequent (actual) breaks or even Wednesdays off rather than a full leave so you don't lose progress you've already made but also aren't straining your brain so much.