If I play Destiny for more than an hour my eyes burn and water as if I've just read one of Stuntmutt's comic strips.

If I play a long time (i.e. 3 hours) I'm totally cooked for the rest of the day, unless I take (at least) a 1-hour nap, and even then I might be a bit wonky.

If I hop on for even 10 minutes the day after a long play session, my eyes tire immediately and I feel the effects for the rest of the day.

It this typical? I think maybe I recall this from other FPS games, but not to this extent. Have I passed some old-man threshold from which there's no return?

Am I sitting too close to the TV? Anyone have any recommendations?

The effects are so bad (seriously), I've had to cut waaayyy back on the play time.

What do you do for a living?

When do you typically play?

Are you the kind of person who's always looking at your phone or tablet?

If you have a job where you sit in front of a monitor all day, or are out in bright lights, your eyes might not be getting a chance to rest. Granted, most of us don't really think of our eyes as something that needs rest, but they do, especially if you are spending a lot of time looking at artificial light sources.

If possible, adjust the distance, lower the brightness a tad and just know your limits. If it feels like you should stop, stop. You can try things like eye drops and blinking more, but it sounds like your environment is the issue.

It sounds like you're experiencing eye strain.

Try these things (in order) to see if they help:

Move the TV so that there is an even amount of backlight behind it as is coming out of the TV.

Position the TV such that the top of the TV is about 2 inches higher than your natural "I'm looking straight ahead" eye line.

If you still feel eye strain, reduce the contrast and brightness settings of the TV.

Check the refresh rate of the TV. Some people experience headaches at different refresh rates.

Sit further back from the TV.

Source: Mandatory ergonomics class I had to take when I first got a job testing video games 21 years ago (holy crap I'm old).

This sounds dumb, but try putting a lamp behind your TV. I did that with my computer monitor a few years ago and it made a big difference in my eye strain.

Also, check your contrast/brightness. If it's overly or under-lit, you may be suffering from eyestrain. You can usually change this on both your TV and through the game itself.

Are you having any vision issues elsewhere in life? May be time for a optical checkup.

And not with a shotgun.

Maybe try some moisturizing eyedrops.

I used to have this problem from halo multiplayer due to forced concentration/strain. I was really happy when Destiny first came out and the marathon sessions seemed to do nothing to my eyes.

Once 2.0 dropped I felt like I noticed a change in the graphics that was causing eyestrain. I don't know it was but it was like a switch to my eyeballs.

FTW i'm an architect and I stare at a screen(s) pretty much all day.

FTW i'm an architect and I stare at a screen(s) pretty much all day.

You poor soul. I'm an architect also. Sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours a day and then more time in front of the tv at home can't be good for me lol.

FTW i'm an architect and I stare at a screen(s) pretty much all day.

You poor soul. I'm an architect also. Sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours a day and then more time in front of the tv at home can't be good for me lol.

Aerospace engineer here, behind two 24" widescreens all day, but I try to walk around, and I get a "break" from screens when I get home and play with my son. :)

TV Editor here. Two screens, a monitor, and my laptop!

Be sure to set your monitors to display white text on black backgrounds, it's a gamechanger.

Another one reporting for duty. I always smile when I see the message, "killed by the architects".

Apparently I accidentally deleted my post while trying to edit.

I noticed the same thing - burning eyes and watering - after TTK. Figured it was my age or stress level. While I'm on a computer/phone/tablet a lot, I usually get several hours of rest from big screen activity before playing.

I have a cool backlight behind my tv to prevent eye strain (and it looks cool), and my tv is not too close to my couch, ergonomically speaking.

FoV is the same or close to it.

Not sure about motion blur, but it's at least pretty close.

Was there previously depth-of-field based on how distant the object at your reticle was? It seems like there was, but I'm not 100% sure. At any rate, I didn't see that while playing today; just a blur around the outside of the screen while aiming.

TV Editor here. Two screens, a monitor, and my laptop!

Be sure to set your monitors to display white text on black backgrounds, it's a gamechanger.

Software engineer, dual-screens all day.

Great responses and suggestions from all. I will:

• Slightly raise my TV (it is currently directly at eye-level)
  
• Review contrast/brightness settings on my TV
  
• Add some lighting behind (around) my TV to normalize TV/ambient levels
  
• Sit back from TV
  
• Get an eye-exam (check-up)...I'm long overdue as it is

I used to have this problem from halo multiplayer due to forced concentration/strain.

This is the only other time I've encountered it to such an extent. I played Witcher III and Dragon Age Inquisition to death without anything approaching this.

I tend to think it's the concentration required - I tend to play as a mid-distance rifleman (i.e. Scout Rifles, DMRs), plinking away at heads when I play.

A lot of good suggestions in this thread - I'll just try to optimize.

Also, who knew there were so many architects around?

Or is it "architects", a la George Costanza?

- No text -

I tend to think it's the concentration required - I tend to play as a mid-distance rifleman (i.e. Scout Rifles, DMRs), plinking away at heads when I play.

I'm also a software dev staring at large dual monitors all day. Seriously, blink more often or use moisturizing eye drops. I've noticed that when I'm focused on something I won't blink as often and my eyes will really feel it later that day, especially if I have a long session of destiny that evening.

Also, who knew there were so many architects around?

Seriously guys, would you please stop killing me?

One of my favorite lines also :)

Source: Mandatory ergonomics class I had to take when I first got a job testing video games 21 years ago (holy crap I'm old).

21 years ago I was just finishing up my stint at Sega doing customer support and telling very irate parents they weren't getting a free Sonic 2 cartridge because they bought the wrong version of the Sega Genesis. Or taking the hour long phone calls for game support on the RPG's.

System admin here, Server and end-user support. Two or three 24" Dell displays to the Win 10 desktop and one 27" thunderbolt for the Mac (two if I'm being really greedy or want to irk users that walk in the tech office). Some days I hate looking at the Apple monitor even though it's *nicer* than the Dell's. I wear contacts and use the blink drops usually in the afternoon. By the time I get home I usually put on the glasses as I've been wearing the contacts since 6am.

I too noticed a change in the display since TTK has come out. Made some adjustments to the TV for contrast/light level and it's better now. The Dreadnaught graphics are what tire me out the most. Not as bad as Halo 4 was but more so than say patrolling the Moon or Venus.

There was a wrong version of the Genesis?

There was a wrong version of the Genesis?

The original console was rectangle shaped and came with Streets of Rage 2 or Altered Beast. The updated was slim-line and square shaped, came with no game and was cheaper. There was a huge promotion at the time to buy a Genesis and get a free Sonic 2. What wasn't made obvious was that it was not for the newer square shaped consoles. The kicker was the only way to tell if wasn't "viable" for the promotion was to look at the UPC code and compare to the coupon. No one did that so that led to a boat load of upset callers.

I tend to think it's the concentration required - I tend to play as a mid-distance rifleman (i.e. Scout Rifles, DMRs), plinking away at heads when I play.

I'm also a software dev staring at large dual monitors all day. Seriously, blink more often or use moisturizing eye drops. I've noticed that when I'm focused on something I won't blink as often and my eyes will really feel it later that day, especially if I have a long session of destiny that evening.

Though really intense code sessions take me somewhere...else. Eye drops though...that might be the ticket.

There was a wrong version of the Genesis?

There was a right version of the Genesis?

*badundund*
( I kid. I was a master system owner as a kid. Could not get my parents to 'upgrade' to a Genesis or any other console. Once was enough for them. I take that back. Twice was enough, before that we had an Atari )

FoV is the same or close to it.

Not sure about motion blur, but it's at least pretty close.

Was there previously depth-of-field based on how distant the object at your reticle was? It seems like there was, but I'm not 100% sure. At any rate, I didn't see that while playing today; just a blur around the outside of the screen while aiming.

Nah, no graphics changes outside of the code support for The Taken.
Speaking of which... The Taken effects are certainly much more intense. I wonder if you have these effects in activities without them?