High contrast images and sensory overload

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I was looking through a photocopy of a research paper for some university work. I turned to page 3 and there was a high contrast black and white image. I felt really sick suddenly and I dropped the sheet. The image had sent me into sensory overload. I can't look at high contrast images. I had one in my physics textbook at school and I had to sellotape a post-it note over the picture because every time I looked at it, it made me retch. I had to scan in this research paper and lower the contrast a large amount on that page, I can look at it now although it makes me a bit nauseous still.

Does anyone else get this sensitivity to high contrast images?

(I have special tinted glasses now that make it easier to read and only transmits 34% of the incoming light, which has been extremely helpful)

Yes, high contrast overloads me also ... and I cannot handle web pages with black backgrounds.

Nor can I, they're horrendous.

I also have issues with high contrast images.

Yes - high contrast is no good. I like the theme of this site as the blue and green are soothing. I just visited a website on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (for university work) and the background was bright cyan and the text was black. I had to close the window on my laptop immediately.

Oh yes, very much so. And yet I have a friend who, knowing this, loves to link me to pictures of paintings with bright, sharply contrasting colors.

Yes.

That's horrible. Sounds like something my Mum would do to me.

I have a hard time being around people that wear the bright fruit colors. I also love the blue and green of wrong planet but sometimes I have to move the page around to get rid of the flashing ads. Is there any way to get rid of those, I'd even donate if I could get rid of them.

That's a common migraine trigger. That may be what the "sick" feeling was. (Migraines can cause all kinds of things besides headaches, and don't have to involve headaches.)

I might ask my support worker if she knows anything about that. I didn't know it could be migraines. That is interesting.

actually, I'm the exact opposite, I can't stand low contrast photos.

I prefer things to be high contrast, photos, websites, drawings, and so forth. I'm not sure why but for some reason I find them soothing.

Edit to clarify:

I was referring to things that are black and white, I can't stand high contrast color.

Yep. Annoys me to no end. I can see distinctions much subtler than that, thank you very much. I don't need ridiculously high contrast.

b/w contrast does not bother me, but bright colors in wild patterns just make me feel like I have to hide somewhere.

I like the wrong planet blue but not so much the green...needs to be a milk paint green.
I hate flashing images....I would donate to get rid of them too

I agree. The flashing images drive me crazy. There's a flashing ad above me right now and it's driving me mad. I can see it constantly in the periphery of my vision.

I don't understand why so many web designers seem to want high contrast.

not quite as extreme, but if i'm wearing thin stripes or similar (like slatted heat vents, venetian blinds) are in my field of vision when looking at something closely or trying to read, i get a blinking / flickering effect and have to cover the pattern or move so i can't see it. things that actually flicker (light above a ceiling fan, for example) are awful. cannot read high contrast websites, especially if there is no visual way to make sense of its organization but it is mostly type. i get an email newsletter that is sometimes in blue with bright red lettering (or vice versa?) and when it is, i can't read it.

you may have Irlen syndrome.




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