Most monitors/laptops have a basic menu built in. Mine (hp) is on and just under the bottom right hand edge. but the buttons are flush and on some monitors are hard to find. Maybe you could search for them in the online manual?When you do find them there will be a brightness control in there. Adjusting this should solve your problem. I always do it as I have sensitive eyes and I know what you mean about going blind with the massive white screen! I also always customise my desktop (via Control Panel) to get the whole colour scheme much more subdued.