Home Lifestyle What Does Science Say About Migraine Glasses?

What Does Science Say About Migraine Glasses?

by InvisiblyMe
A close up of an eye with a  multicoloured iris in green, red and blue. The post title is underneath : What does science say about migraine glasses?

Today I wanted to share a fab guest post by John on the subject of migraines. He covers issues of light sensitivity and photophobia, with scientific underpinnings showing how migraine glasses can help in managing migraines. Enjoy the post!

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What Are Migraine Glasses & How Do They Work?

If you suffer from migraines, you have probably seen some talk about migraine glasses. Migraine glasses apparently are great for reducing migraine symptoms and blocking out lights that trigger attacks. Sure, the name sounds convincing enough, but do migraine glasses actually work for people with migraines?

For the answer, we turn to science.

Before we dive into the studies, let’s briefly go over how migraine glasses actually work.

Our eyes take in a wide spectrum of light. Lightwaves with different frequencies and lengths have different β€œcolors.” Red light and blue light, for example, have different frequencies and may cause different reactions when our eyes absorb them.

A close up of an eye with a  multicoloured iris in green, red and blue.

Blue light and UV lights can trigger migraines and photophobia, or light sensitivity. (Photophobia doesn’t mean you’re afraid of lights or photos…it just means you’re extra sensitive and exposure can lead to headaches, dry eye, eye spasms, or a spectrum of other awful symptoms.)

Migraine glasses specifically filter out these lightwaves and help to reduce symptoms throughout patients with different levels of sensitivity. Rather than blocking out all types of light and causing increased sensitivity later on (ehem, indoor sunglasses,) migraine glasses can be worn indoors or outdoors to only block triggering lightwaves.

So…do they work?

Migraine Glasses Reduce Light Sensitivity Symptoms For Many Patients

In short, yes, the right kind of glasses can be helpful for some people! Migraine glasses help many types of individuals who are affected by blue and UV light.

Black migraine glasses.

One study revealed that patients with wide array light hypersensitivity found relief with migraine glasses; another study showed that patients with benign essential blepharospasm (BEB) also benefited from migraine glasses.

Migraine glasses were able to effectively reduce the following symptoms in patients with light sensitivity:

  • High blink rate
  • Eye spasms
  • Eye strain
  • Overall light sensitivity

Patients with BEB and photosensitivity often experience similar symptoms to people with photophobia and migraines. FL-41 glasses provide equal-opportunity relief for people with many types of light sensitivity.

They Can Even Help the Blind

Another revealing study looked at blind participants who suffer from light sensitivity and migraines. There are different levels of blindness; even if the participants could not see what was in front of them, they would still react if a bright light was shone in their face. Bright lights can increase light sensitivity and migraine symptoms even if you are blind. It’s important for migraineurs to take note and choose lenses that help to filter out these bright lights and triggering lightwaves.

You May Have Light Sensitivity and You Don’t Know It

You may not be a child and you may not be blind. You may not even have photophobia – or do you?

A woman backdropped by a white brick wall. She's smiling and wearing black migraine glasses, with her hands up as though massaging her temples.

Photophobia and migraines are closely linked. They are so close that many people often say that they have migraines and call it a day. One study showed that while 24% of patients said they did not experience light sensitivity symptoms during a migraine, over 93% actually did.

Turns out, you may be photophobic and you don’t even know it.
Whether you just experience regular migraines or have a condition that is linked to light sensitivity, you may be able to find relief with FL-41 glasses.

Author : John Martinez

Related Reading :

[ This is a sponsored guest post & as such the ideas expressed here are that of the author.]

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24 comments

Anjali January 3, 2019 - 3:25 pm

I think I really need thes glasses as i have light sensitivity. Thank you for sharing ????????????

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 3:45 pm

It’s certainly something worth considering. Glad you liked the post and thanks for the comment – have a lovely weekend πŸ™‚
xx

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Darnell January 3, 2019 - 3:31 pm

Do they help with eye strain associated with prolonged computer screen viewing?
Thanks for the info Caz.

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 9:59 am

I would have thought they’d help with the brightness associated with screen time, which could help eye strain. I find I have to wear my regular glasses when using computers because of eye strain, which is a little different I think because your eyes are having to adjust to more than just the light. I’d think they’d be worth trying, I know people who have tinted glasses when they use computers so I think it’s a similar concept.xx

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Cathy Cade January 3, 2019 - 5:38 pm

What a useful post – I didn’t even know there were such things. I don’t get migraines but my eyes are extra-sensitive to a lot of things – spring onions and leeks, low levels of smoke, pollen (although I’ve never suffered from hayfever as such)… My real worry is bright sun and strong lights when driving. I wonder if they might help me….

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 10:03 am

I think migraine glasses and tinted lenses are not well known about, and ditto for the issue of light sensitivity. I’m sorry you have such sensitive eyes too, my mother gets that a lot and I do when it comes to certain things (like pollution and even some fragrances). I find light can make my eyes water and I know a lot of people find tinted glasses (and prescription glasses that darken with light) helpful when driving. I often wear sunglasses, even when it’s not summer, to take the edge off the lights so I think migraine glasses and similar could be worth trying when you drive. xx

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Sandee January 3, 2019 - 6:34 pm

My mother could have used these. She had terrible migraines and light was something she didn’t want.

Have a fabulous day. β™₯

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 9:46 am

I’m sorry your mother suffered with awful migraines too. It’s a shame that there isn’t a straightforward means to prevent or treat migraines, which can have such a detrimental effect on life. Thank you for sharing Sandee. I hope you have a positive weekend ahead xx

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da-AL January 3, 2019 - 7:43 pm

indeed interesting – I hadn’t heard of them – tx Caz & hope your 2019 is starting off well

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 9:32 am

I don’t think many people have heard of them, or really considered the issue of light sensitivity, so I’m glad you found the post interesting too. Thanks lovely – have a good weekend! xx

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Carolyn Page January 3, 2019 - 8:48 pm

Very interesting, Caz! My man gets migraine. I’ll pass this info on to him.
Hoping the beginning of 2019 has been good for you.. πŸ™‚
xoxoxo

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 9:31 am

I’m sorry he has to deal with them too, but I’m glad you found the post interesting. Thanks Carolyn – I hope you have a lovely weekend to kick off the New Year πŸ™‚
xx

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Terri, Reclaiming HOPE January 3, 2019 - 9:58 pm

Thanks for sharing this Caz! As you know, many of us with fibromyalgia also have migraines, so this information is extremely helpful. I haven’t worn the migraine glasses, but I do have some gaming glasses (with the yellow lenses) that I often use when doing computer work. I also have to be very careful when watching movies — you know how in action movies they love to use those big, bright explosions — because of my sensitivity to light. I’m sharing this, as I’m sure others will find it useful as well. Sending hugs your way!

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InvisiblyMe January 5, 2019 - 9:30 am

I think gaming glasses are a good move, and you’re right about being careful with TV and movies with the bright light. I’m really pleased you liked the guest post, I thought it was pretty interesting and very relevant for the many of us who struggle with migraines. Thanks for the great comment, Terri! I hope you have a lovely (migraine-free) weekend πŸ™‚
xx

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The Lonely Author January 5, 2019 - 4:35 pm

Thank you for sharing this post. I will pass this on to friends who suffer from migraines.

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InvisiblyMe January 7, 2019 - 4:34 pm

I hope they find it useful; I don’t think light sensitivity is often considered when dealing with migraines, so it’s quite an interesting one. Thanks for the comment – I hope you have a good week ahead πŸ™‚

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Rachel, The Invisible Hypothyroidism January 7, 2019 - 2:00 pm

Very interesting! Currently in a migraine haze as I write this!

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InvisiblyMe January 7, 2019 - 4:31 pm

I thought it was an interesting thing to consider, I don’t think light sensitivity gets thought about too much unless it’s an obvious issue for you. Sorry you’ve got a cracker of a migraine at the moment, they’re evil! πŸ™

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candy keane January 15, 2019 - 2:31 pm

I have migraines and have never heard of the glasses! Totally going to look into this. Just wondering if they are like the blue-light blocking glasses? I tried a pair of those and didn’t like the yellow tinger everything had. Found that a little headache inducing, lol.

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InvisiblyMe January 15, 2019 - 2:50 pm

I think I’d find that a big headache inducing too! I don’t think these types of glasses give a tinge to things. I’ve not tried them yet either so I’m afraid I may not be much help. There’s a link in the article to a type of the glasses, you could always email them to see if they could help further. I would imagine they’d be more like sunglasses but without darkening your vision indoors to the same extent.. Thanks for the comment! πŸ™‚
xx

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Leigh Ann January 23, 2019 - 8:55 pm

I purchased FL-41 migraine glasses from a local optometrist. I got 55% for indoors and 85% for outdoors. These help a little. I still have intractable migraines, but less eye strain. It’s very important to buy only FL-41 lenses. These are the only tint that has been medically studied.

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InvisiblyMe January 25, 2019 - 4:34 pm

I’m sorry you still get migraines, but a little less eye-strain sounds positive. Thanks for sharing your experience of what you use! =]

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Mary (cactus catz) March 10, 2019 - 5:14 am

Interesting article. I hadn’t even know that there was such a thing as migraine glasses. I wouldn’t mind a pair as I get them on occasion.

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InvisiblyMe March 10, 2019 - 8:57 pm

You don’t hear much at all about migraine glasses, so I was really glad to get to share this post to let people know about them. Thanks for the comment, Mary πŸ™‚

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