Do fluorescent lights, UV lights, and computer screens drive you crazy, and trigger your migraines? Are you fed up with the throbbing agony and incapacitating consequences that migraines have on you? Migraines can be extremely difficult to control. They can significantly influence your day-to-day activities and leave you longing for relief.
Fortunately, migraine relief glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy are unique treatment options that have the potential to provide some relief from migraines. In this in-depth guide, we will go into all you need to know about these specialty migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy options built specifically for individuals who suffer from migraines.
We’ll cover all the bases, including the science behind their proposed effects, treatment options, and the most important aspects and advantages. Continue reading to find out how migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy have the potential to improve the way you deal with migraines.
Let’s begin to SHED SOME LIGHT on migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy (yes, pun intended)…
The Science Behind the Migraines
Migraines are not the same as regular headaches; they are a complex neurological disease that can significantly influence and disrupt a person’s life. To better grasp migraines, we need to first investigate the migraine brain itself.
- Migraine sufferers are frequently susceptible to a wide variety of migraine triggers. Stress, fluctuations in hormone levels, specific meals, environmental influences, and even shifts in the weather can all trigger anxiety. Think of the migraine brain as a hyperexcitable brain, where the volume is turned up to maximum all the time and the nervous system is overactive. The result is that many factors which may not bother non-migraineurs (such as lights, sounds and smells), can be major triggers to someone with migraine.
- A disruption in the normal pattern of blood vessel dilation and constriction throughout the head also characterizes migraines.
- Serotonin and dopamine are two examples of neurotransmitters vital in the brain’s ability to regulate its many different activities, including those of migraine and pain pathways. Inflammatory neuropeptides such as CGRP are also central to the migraine process.
Migraine Glasses: How Do They Work?
Migraine glasses, which are also known as precision-tinted glasses, precision-colored lenses, or migraine relief glasses, have emerged as potential methods for managing migraines and decreasing the impact that light sensitivity has on migraine sufferers.
Migraine glasses work by filtering specific light wavelengths felt to be a migraine trigger. The exact mechanism of how they work is not fully understood, although some of the basic theories as to how they might work is as follows:
Glare Reduction:
Migraine glasses have an anti-glare coating/polarization that helps reduce the glare from reflections or bright lights. Glare is a common migraine trigger noted by patients, so reducing it may help lessen a migraine from starting. For example, it is common to hear patients complain about a migraine being triggered by seeing the glare off a shiny car.
Light Sensitivity Reduction:
Migraine glasses have a tint that filters out specific light wavelengths that are a migraine trigger in some patients, such as blue light. Fluorescent lights produce a lot of blue light, which bothers many people with photophobia and migraine. Thus, by limiting exposure to these specific wavelengths, light sensitivity migraine triggers should also be reduced.
Contrast Enhancement:
Some migraine glasses have lenses that enhance contrast, making it easier for the eyes to better perceive finer details of objects in the visual field. This helps limit eye strain, as well as visual disturbances experienced during migraines.
The Crucial Part Played by Light
People who get headaches often have a symptom called “photophobia,” which means they are sensitive to light. Certain kinds of light, like bright, flashing, or certain colors of light, can cause migraines or make them worse. Migraine relief glasses are made to block out certain types of light. This reduces the amount of light that gets into the eye and makes it less likely that the light will affect the visual system.
How to Choose the Right Color for Your Migraine Glasses
There are many different colors and tints of glasses for people with migraines. Each color and tint gives people with headaches a different amount of relief. Certain wavelengths of light that are known to cause headaches can be carefully blocked out by tinted glasses. It helps make migraine headaches less painful. Different people may need a different color because they are sensitive to different things. Starting with blocking blue light wavelengths is the best to try first since this is such a common trigger.
More Than Just Light Filtering
Some glasses are made with special coatings or technologies that make it easier to see and lessen the effects of sight problems that people with migraines often have.
How to Use Migraine Glasses in Everyday Life
The ability of migraine glasses to be worn in various situations while being comfortable is one of the most significant benefits of using these glasses. They can be worn indoors and outside, and many of them are available in various frame types to cater to the interests of different people.
Types of Migraine Glasses
There are many types of migraine glasses available. Most do not require a prescription, although there are also prescription versions. So you can buy them on your own, but finding the best one for you may take some trial and error, depending on your specific preferences and needs. Here are some of the more popular brands and models:
FL-41 Glasses:
This lens type was the original basis for “migraine glasses”. Migraine glasses using these lenses are available from several different brands (such as some of those discussed below). They have a specific rose-colored tint that has been found to lessen light sensitivity and thus, relieve migraines. These glasses aim to primarily just block blue light.
However, subsequent research has shown that both blue and amber light can aggravate photophobia. So FL-41 glasses block the blue light well (helpful to those whose migraines are triggered by this wavelength), but not the amber light which may trigger migraines in other people.
Unfortunately, FL-41 lenses also block 80% of green light. Green light is known to help reduce photophobia and migraine severity (green light therapy is discussed further down). So this is something to take into consideration if green light is beneficial to you.
Axon Optics Powered by Avulux Migraine and Light Sensitivity Lenses:
This company produces migraine glasses with a unique tint that filters out multiple specific light wavelengths felt to most commonly trigger migraine. They also have a variety of lens and frame styles, as well prescription lenses.
Axon Optics has specialized migraine and light sensitivity lenses/glasses powered by Avulux optical technology. Avulux’s patented precision lens technology filters out up to 97% of blue, amber, and red light while allowing in more than 70% of soothing green light, all of which may help people living with migraine.
These migraine glasses have lenses with supporting evidence for effective treatment of migraine pain and light sensitivity. A recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience reported a double blind, randomized clinical trial comparing their patented precision optical filter with a placebo. Clinical and statistical significance for both migraine pain and light sensitivity were achieved. There has never been a comparable study done with classic “migraine glasses” FL-41 lenses or simple blue light blockers.
TheraSpecs:
TheraSpecs was one of the first companies in this migraine glasses space. They have a wide range of frame styles and colors which have precision-tinted lenses to block out migraine-triggering blue light wavelength via FL-41 lenses. So if your migraines are primarily susceptible to the common blue light triggers (fluorescent lights, UV lights, excess sun, technology screens), these and similar companies using predominantly FL-41 lenses would certainly be an option to try.
BluTech Lenses:
BluTech lenses are also designed to primarily filter out irritating blue light emitted by digital screens and artificial lighting. These types of glasses are also known as “blue blockers”. They can help reduce migraines triggered by excessive screen time related to too much blue light exposure.
J+S Vision Blue Light Shield Glasses:
J + S Vision Blue Light Blocking Glasses have a yellow-tinted lens that primarily blocks out that migraine-inducing blue light as well. They can also be worn while using digital devices to reduce eye strain and potentially prevent migraines. You can purchase them here.
Ultimately, the best migraine glasses for you will depend on your individual needs, the frequency and severity of your migraines, and personal preferences. If you don’t respond to blocking primarily blue light via classic FL-41 lenses, you may want to try the more advanced migraine lenses offered by Axon Optics, and powered by Avulux. If you aren’t sure, it is recommended to discuss with a headache specialist or a neurologist who has a special interest in treating migraine to determine the optimal type of migraine glasses for you to try.
Benefits of Migraine Glasses: Enhancing Your Quality of Life
People who get headaches have access to a number of benefits that, when paired with the ability of migraine glasses to filter light, could make their lives much better in a big way. Migraine relief glasses have a special design, as outlined above. In the next part, we’ll talk about the many ways glasses can help people with migraines and how these glasses for migraine sufferers can help with day-to-day life.
Alleviation of the Sensitivity to Light
Glasses for migraine sufferers are beneficial for several reasons, but one of the most important advantages of these glasses is their capacity to alleviate light sensitivity, which is a typical and disabling symptom of migraines. Patients with migraine commonly complain about being overly sensitive to light all the time. They often wear sunglasses most of the day. This just reflects that hypersensitive migraine brain discussed above.
Migraine glasses include tinted lenses that filter out specific wavelengths of light, which helps to lessen the intensity of the pain and suffering caused by migraine triggers such as bright lights, fluorescent lighting, and other light sources.
Minimized Migraine Triggers
Many people, particularly those sensitive to particular wavelengths of light, are susceptible to developing migraines when exposed to light. Migraine glasses act as a protective shield by obstructing or minimizing the effect of the lights that trigger migraines.
People who suffer from migraines induced by light triggers can lessen the severity of their attacks by donning special glasses designed for the condition. It enhances their quality of life and gives them a sense of control over the migraines they experience.
Improving Focus and Increasing Productivity
Migraines can make it hard to do anything because they can cause pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light, among other things. This can make it hard to focus and be productive. Migraine relief glasses give people a break from these symptoms, so they can focus on activities and jobs without having migraine attacks keep pulling their attention away.
Migraine glasses can help people get back their ability to focus and be more productive by reducing the pain and distractions that come with migraines.
More Freedom To Move And More Independence
People wearing migraine glasses can move around more easily and do more things without worrying about triggering another migraine. Migraine glasses let people keep their freedom and ability to move around.
People who are sensitive to light may be able to take part in more daily activities without putting their health at risk if their situation is made less of a problem.
Health And Happiness Of The Mind
When someone has headaches often, it can be hard on their mental health and well-being. Migraines are hard to predict, and the physical and mental pain they cause can make people feel anxious and depressed and lower their quality of life.
Migraine sufferers who wear migraine glasses feel like they have more power and control over their headaches, which can improve their mental health. Migraine sufferers can feel calmer and more emotionally stable if they can reduce both how often and how bad their migraine episodes are.
Computer Screen Blockers (Blue Light Filters) For Migraine
For those that don’t want to have to wear sunglasses, but still want to block those irritating light wavelengths from computer screens, there are options for this as well.
Computer screen blue light blockers are essentially blue light filters, used to block those migraine-triggering blue light wavelengths. It is very common to hear patients complain about migraines starting after excess screen time, for this exact reason. Blue light is emitted by electronic devices such as smart phones, computer screens, and tablets. Blue light has been shown to not only trigger migraines, but also disrupt sleep patterns in some patients. By filtering out or reducing blue light exposure, these screen blockers can help to prevent a migraine from being triggered, and potentially improve sleep patterns.
There are several types of computer screen blockers available:
Screen Protectors:
Computer screen blue light blockers or smartphone blue light blockers are applied directly as screen overlays or adhesive films to the screens of computers or mobile devices. They absorb and/or reflect the blue light, reducing the chances of triggering a migraine.
Blue Light Glasses:
Blue light-blocking glasses have lenses designed to filter out blue light, as detailed in the section above. These glasses can be worn specifically while using a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Software/Apps:
There have been some apps and software created to reduce blue light emissions from computer screens. These apps typically adjust the color temperature of the screen, giving it a warmer appearance, with more yellow or orange tint. Some examples include Migraine Relief – Green Dimmer, Blue Light Filter, sFilter, Night Shift, Twilight and f.lux.
What is Green Light Therapy for Migraine?
Green light therapy is a newer approach gaining popularity to help manage migraines. It involves exposure to specific wavelengths of green light (around 525 nm) as a potential treatment for migraine attacks.
The exact mechanism of how green light therapy works for migraines is not entirely known. The theory behind green light therapy is that it can help reduce the severity and duration of migraines by influencing the pain processing centers within the brain. It is felt that green light therapy modulates the brain’s response to pain signals and reduces inflammation, has a calming effect on the brain, and helps to regulate circadian rhythms, which are often disrupted in migraine sufferers.
A small 2016 study found that green light exposure significantly reduced the intensity of migraine attacks and provided relief for some participants. Another 2020 study showed that green light therapy reduced the average number of migraine days.
Green light therapy is most often administerd by goggles that emit green light or green light therapy lamps. These devices are used in daily sessions, lasting a few minutes to several hours, depending on the treatment protocol and the patient’s response.
Final Thoughts
If you suffer from migraines, migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy may provide significant relief. These therapies provide a glimpse of hope in the fight against migraines thanks to the cutting-edge technology and precise design that go into making them. They offer a potential answer for managing migraine episodes and even preventing them altogether by blocking out harmful light and minimizing the number of visual triggers present. It is important to remember that choosing the perfect pair of eyeglasses to meet your requirements may require some trial and error, but the potential rewards may make the effort well worth it.
Although migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy may help some patients, they may not help everyone. There is a lot of variability between patients in terms of migraine triggers and the electrical pathways of which their migraines are most dependent on. This is why variability in treatment responses is the rule and not the exception.
It’s important to remember that migraine glasses, blue light filters, and green light therapy are still considered emerging and alternative therapies. More research is needed to establish the optimal treatment protocols and effectiveness. However, there have been several excellent supporting studies completed and this certainly adds legitimacy to these treatments. These should not be considered a substitute for medical advice or prescribed migraine medications, but rather an adjuct therapy. These types of treatments should be used in conjunction with the standard medical treatments that are found within established migraine treatment guidelines.
Ultimately, it is recommended to consult with a headache specialist or a neurologist who specializes in migraine treatment to determine if one of these unique therapies might be a good option for you.
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