Post-concussion screen time settings

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerAfter concussion, light and screen time may need temporary limits guided by a clinician. On screens you do use, lower brightness, reduce motion and shorten sessions. This page is educational comfort advice, not a return-to-learn or return-to-play protocol. Keep expectations modest.
Not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat disease. When to see a doctor.

Follow clinical guidance first

  1. Use your clinician’s screen-time plan.
  2. Increase exposure gradually only as advised.

When using a screen

  1. Low brightness; dark themes.
  2. No autoplay; reduce motion.
  3. Optional Migraine Mode; stop if symptoms spike.

Good to know

  • Related: /conditions/post-concussion-screen-time/, /conditions/photophobia-after-concussion/.

Honest limits

  • We do not publish minute caps — those belong in clinical guidance.
  • Software filters are optional comfort, not proven neuroprotective therapy.

FAQ

How long should I avoid screens?

Only your clinician should set that timeline.

Is dark mode required?

No, but many people prefer less glare during recovery.

Sources

  • CDC HEADS UP: Returning to Sports and Activities after concussion (screen rest context). Link
  • Noseda R, … Burstein R. Migraine photophobia originating in cone-driven retinal pathways. Brain, 2016. Link
  • American Migraine Foundation. Photophobia (light sensitivity) and migraine. Link

Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.