Can a monitor 'break' and cause eye strain?

[Dputiger]

I've got a Sony Trinitron Multiscan 100sx 15" monitor that I've had for four years--its been great.

However, lately, I'm having trouble looking at it, it seems. Looking at the monitor for more than about twenty minutes makes my eyes hurt and have trouble focusing--and I begin to feel a slight attack of vertigo, particularly if I'm trying to read typed words.

Now, my Refresh rate is high, I've swapped video cards, and I have a well-lighted workspace with a good viewing distance between myself and the monitor. I also have had my vision checked.

I don't seem to have this problem on other monitors, but the other monitors in question are all 17-19" screens.

Does anyone know what could be causing this?

[barbados]

I know what you are going through as I went through it myself...

....I even resorted to wearing yellow ski-sunglasses, which helped but messed up the colors.

Eyes checked, new glasses, new contacts, same thing.

I finally bought two Mitsubushi 22" flat screen monitors and, vola, no more headaches!

My gut feeling is that there is an age, graphed in months, that a person's eyes and his brain suffer from trauma viewing unacceptable input(whatever that may be).

The fact that larger monitors don't affect you (or I) gives creditability to this theory.

I'd chuck the small monitors and get a big screen and see if that helps (the wife will stand behind you on this one!).

I wish I had a concrete answer for you, but I understand your problem and wish you the best of luck!

[EastSt]

Just reiterating the facts.......
A four year old monitor would have some loss in picture quality due to the aging of the components.
Also, a four year old monitor is probably curved in both directions which makes it very susptical to glare.
Combine these two items and you could have trouble.

If the monitor adjustments won't bring the clarity back and glare is not a problem, then I'd say thanks, its been a good four years and dump it.

[Dputiger]

Well, I've got no wife, but I'm also a broke college student with no money for a new monitor that'd be as good quality as this one. (It's a Trinitron 15").

Probably the time starting at Excel/Word is the problem.

I guess I'll just put it on the list of 'things to do.'

[araaraara]

What resolution are you using? I have a 15" six year old MAG at 1024*768 @75hz. I get a headache after a few hours. You font size may also be a problem if it is like 10 point or so. Try a lower resolution and a larger or different font and see if that helps. I know about being on a budget!

[welsh wizard]

All monitors can lead to overuse eyestrain, normally recommended to have a break every 20 minutes for aprox 2 to 5 minutes helps with the eye strain.
plus each year that goes by mean older eyes.
some times a 3Com Polorized earthed screen filter will help.

( also remember looking at a screen is like looking into a torch beam, both emite light, if you have the monitor on in a darkened room at night, you will see how well it lights up the room)

WW

[Dputiger]

In the "Advanced" box, under Adapter.

[Dputiger]

Well, my lighting is good, and I use 800x600 at a high refresh rate.

[struggles]

where do you change the refresh rate?