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The short answer
A screen asks your visual system to do several hard things at once, for a long time. After a concussion those skills are often affected, so screens bring on symptoms sooner than most everyday activities.
What a screen asks of your eyes and brain
- Aiming and focusing up close. Both eyes have to turn in together and hold focus on a near screen for long stretches. In a study of 100 adolescents with concussion, 69% had a vision diagnosis. Focusing problems (51%) and convergence insufficiency (49%) were the most common[1].
- Quick, accurate eye jumps. Reading, scanning a menu or moving between windows takes many fast eye movements. Problems with these jumps were found in 29% of the same group[1].
- Motion. Scrolling, video and moving backgrounds ask the brain to match what the eyes see with what the balance system feels. In a concussion screening study, 61% of patients had symptoms brought on by at least one eye-movement or visual-motion task[2].
- Brightness. Light sensitivity is a common concussion symptom, and a bright screen is a light source you stare into.
What the research says about screen time
In a randomized trial, 125 people aged 12 to 25 seen in an emergency department with concussion either avoided screens for 48 hours or were allowed to use them. Symptoms lasted a median of 3.5 days in the no-screens group, compared with 8 days in the screens-allowed group[3]. It was a single-centre study of the first 48 hours only, so the authors call the finding preliminary.
The international concussion consensus statement says strict rest isn't recommended. It supports limiting screens in the first 48 hours, then a gradual return to activity[4].
So the aim is a short break early, then easing back in. Avoiding screens for weeks isn't the goal.
Making screens easier while you recover
- Break before symptoms build. Stop for a few minutes on a schedule, not once the headache has started.
- Move the screen back and enlarge the text. The farther away the screen, the less your eyes have to turn in. Zoom the text to match.
- Cut the motion. Use page down or arrow keys instead of fast scrolling. Turn off autoplay, and turn on your device's "reduce motion" setting.
- Match brightness to the room. Avoid a bright screen in a dark room.
- One screen, one window. Close what you don't need, so there's less to scan.
- Give long reading another route. Print it, or use text-to-speech.
Blue-light glasses aren't likely to help. A Cochrane review of 17 trials with 619 people found they may make no short-term difference to eye strain from computer use[5].
When to get your vision checked
Book a vision assessment if screens still bring on symptoms after the first few weeks, or if you notice:
- Blurred or double vision
- Words that seem to move, or losing your place
- Dizziness or nausea when scrolling or watching video
- Headaches that build with screen time
- Trouble getting back to work or school because of screens
We test eye teaming, focusing and eye movements, and explain the results in plain language. Depending on what we find, treatment may be neuro-functional glasses, vision therapy, or both. Read more about concussion vision rehabilitation. If your concussion came from a crash, see what auto insurance covers in Ontario.
Go to the emergency department for a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, growing confusion or drowsiness, a seizure, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, or sudden vision loss.
Common questions
Should I avoid screens completely until I'm better?
No. Current guidance supports limiting screens in the first 48 hours, then returning gradually, staying below the point where symptoms build. Strict rest isn't recommended.
Is dark mode easier on my eyes?
Some people find it easier and some find it harder. Use whichever is more comfortable, and match screen brightness to the room.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly. If your concussion was from a car accident, your auto insurance may cover the assessment.
References
- Master CL, Scheiman M, Gallaway M, et al. Vision diagnoses are common after concussion in adolescents. Clinical Pediatrics. 2016;55(3):260–267. doi:10.1177/0009922815594367
- Mucha A, Collins MW, Elbin RJ, et al. A brief vestibular/ocular motor screening (VOMS) assessment to evaluate concussions: preliminary findings. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;42(10):2479–2486. doi:10.1177/0363546514543775
- Macnow T, Curran T, Tolliday C, et al. Effect of screen time on recovery from concussion: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatrics. 2021. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2782
- Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport–Amsterdam, October 2022. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2023;57(11):695–711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898
- Singh S, Keller PR, et al. Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023;CD013244. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013244.pub2