How to manage screen intolerance after a concussion?
Screen sensitivity is one of the most frequent issues people face after a concussion or other mild traumatic brain injury. In a world dominated by digital devices, this can be incredibly frustrating. The good news is that—like many other post-concussion symptoms—your tolerance for screens can improve with a structured, progressive rehabilitation plan. With the right strategy, most individuals can return to work, school, and normal digital use without triggering headaches, eye strain, or fatigue.
Although research on screen exposure during concussion recovery is still developing, several important findings help guide a safe and effective approach. Full citations are provided at the end for those who wish to explore the studies in more detail.
Limiting screens for the first 48 hours leads to faster recovery compared with unrestricted screen use.
Extremely high and extremely low amounts of screen time are both associated with more symptoms at 30 days.
The type of screen use matters. Students who spent more time in traditional class settings and engaged in lighter screen activity tended to recover better than those using computers heavily—especially for gaming—during the first week.
Using these key points, the following is the general progression we use in clinic. This is a guideline rather than a rigid protocol; each person’s recovery is unique. Patients are advised to remain at each stage for at least 24 hours. If symptoms spike when trying the next step, they should return to the previous level for 24 hours before trying again.
Important: Before attempting a return-to-screen program—or any other rehabilitation plan—it’s essential to be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider who can confirm that it’s appropriate and safe for your situation. This guide is educational only and is not a personalized treatment plan.
Step 1: Keep screen use under 1 hour per day for the first 48 hours
The first two days after a concussion are about giving the brain an opportunity to stabilize and recover from the initial metabolic energy drop that occurs during injury. This phase focuses on reducing stimulation without requiring total avoidance.
During the first 48 hours:
Keep total screen exposure below one hour per day.
Restrict use to light mental tasks like reading brief emails or simple web browsing.
Break screen use into short segments of 10–15 minutes.
Stop immediately if symptoms increase—don’t attempt to “push through.”
Most people will need to stay home from work or school to prevent cognitive overload.
Desktop or laptop screens are usually easier on the eyes than phones; start there.
Be cautious with TikTok, Instagram, or any rapid-scroll apps—these place heavy demands on eye tracking and can worsen symptoms quickly.
Passive video content (YouTube, Netflix) is generally fine if it isn’t visually intense.
Increase text size to reduce strain.
Use “night shift” or similar settings to decrease blue light and adjust brightness to the lowest comfortable level.
Minimize glare and visual distractions in your environment.
Step 2: Gradually reintroduce screen time over the next 3–7 days
This stage focuses on slowly rebuilding your tolerance. Both extremes—too much and too little—can delay recovery. The goal is a controlled, moderate increase.
During this phase:
Increase total screen time and session length only as symptoms allow.
Most people manage 2–3 hours per day, progressing toward half-days of work.
Aim for sessions of 20–30 minutes.
Mild symptoms are acceptable, but increases shouldn’t exceed 3/10 from baseline.
Begin normalizing screen settings and gradually increase phone use.
Return font size to normal if tolerated.
Continue using “night shift” when helpful.
TikTok and Instagram may still provoke symptoms; limit to brief (<5 minute) sessions as tolerated.
Introduce visual rehab exercises to build endurance.
Increase duration of non-screen visual tasks such as reading paper books, puzzles, crosswords, etc., working up to one hour.
Begin any prescribed visual rehabilitation from your clinician in this stage.
Increase natural light exposure to reduce sensitivity (outdoor walking, avoiding sunglasses when appropriate).
Step 3: Increase screen duration and resume half-days of work or school
This stage focuses on building endurance by returning to more typical screen demands while still limiting total daily load. It’s normal for cognitive fatigue or mild screen intolerance to reappear here.
During this stage:
Resume half-days of work or school involving screen use.
Work toward 4–5 hours of total screen exposure, ideally structured into two sessions of 1–2 hours with a short break.
Mornings may be better tolerated due to higher energy levels after sleep.
Mild symptoms are still acceptable—no more than a 3/10 increase from baseline.
Continue transitioning back to normal screen brightness and font sizes.
Use social media and mobile apps more regularly if tolerated.
Progress visual rehab exercises to more challenging levels.
Aim for normal visual and reading endurance in non-screen tasks.
Maintain exposure to natural light to help desensitize your visual system.
Step 4: Resume regular screen use and full days of work/school
The final stage focuses on returning to your usual patterns of computer and phone use. Time limits drop away—your symptom response guides pacing.
Safety note: If your job involves activities where symptoms could endanger you or others—prolonged driving, heavy equipment operation, working at heights—get medical clearance before resuming these tasks.
During this stage:
Return to full work or school days.
Expect 6–8 hours of daily screen time, breaking as needed.
Continue as long as symptoms don’t escalate significantly.
The goal is normal computer and phone habits.
Gradually remove all special modifications (brightness changes, font boosts, night mode).
It’s fine if you still need some adjustments to get through the day early in this stage—just try to use them less often over time.
Delay highly visually demanding video games (e.g., Call of Duty, NHL, God of War) until you can tolerate full days of screen use without issues.
What if progress stalls?
If you’re unable to progress to the next stage or the entire protocol drags on for more than two weeks, it’s essential to seek reassessment by a trained healthcare provider. Persistent or worsening screen intolerance may reflect underlying issues such as:
Difficulty with focusing
Eye movement (oculomotor) weakness
Convergence insufficiency
Other visual or neurological impairments
Everyone’s recovery timeline varies—some people improve over days, while others may need months. What matters most is following the principle of progressive, stepwise visual loading rather than rigidly adhering to exact timeframes.
Thankfully, there are new treatment options available such as virtual concussion assessment and management like the service that we offer at Back in Balance Clinic. To learn more about the benefits of virtual concussion management, please see our other blog post here.
If you would like to book a virtual concussion assessment with me, Dr. Steven Murray, and you are a resident of Ontario, you can do so through our clinic link here.
Consistency, patience, and appropriate guidance are key.
References:
Macnow T, Curran T, Tolliday C, Martin K, McCarthy M, Ayturk D, Babu KM, Mannix R. Effect of Screen Time on Recovery From Concussion: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2021 Nov 1;175(11):1124-1131. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2782. PMID: 34491285; PMCID: PMC8424526.
Cairncross M, Yeates KO, Tang K, Madigan S, Beauchamp MH, Craig W, Doan Q, Zemek R, Kowalski K, Silverberg ND. Early Postinjury Screen Time and Concussion Recovery. Pediatrics. 2022 Nov 1;150(5):e2022056835. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-056835. PMID: 36250231.
Yang J, Alshaikh E, Asa N, VonDeylen O, Desai N, Taylor HG, Pommering T, MacDonald JP, Cohen DM, Yeates KO; ReAct Clinical Study Group. Exploring the association between cognitive activity and symptom resolution following concussion in adolescents aged 11-17 years. Br J Sports Med. 2024 Mar 13;58(6):328-333. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107601. PMID: 38346776.