An Eyewear Solution for Migraine Symptoms?

For many who experience migraine, certain types of light can trigger a painful epi­sode. In an effort to get ahead of this, researchers have begun developing glasses that block those troublesome wavelengths before they reach the eyes.

Two types show promise in reducing migraine symptoms. The most common of these lenses, invented in the 1980s by Arnold Wilkins, PhD, is the fluorescent 41 (­FL-41). It filters blue and green light, which prevents them from reaching the cornea, where they can activate the trigeminal nerve and spark an attack.

“If that trigeminal pathway is primed for migraine, it’s almost like … your nerve endings tend to be hyper­excitable [and] different wavelengths of light can trigger a migraine attack,” ­explains neuro-­ophthalmologist Rudrani Banik, MD, in a 2020 pod­cast for the Association of Migraine Disorders.

In a study published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, researchers found that FL-41 lenses reduced the frequency of migraine attacks in children by more than half, though they were not effective during an actual attack. Other studies have suggested the lenses reduce the impact of the episodes.

More recent research touts the benefits of certain “blue cut” glasses, which filter blue light. In a 2022 study with 10 participants, these lenses appeared to reduce the ­frequency of headache days.

Despite the small sample, the authors concluded that the blue cut glasses offer “a simple and effective response to migraine photosensitivity.”

Migraine glasses are not typically covered by insurance, so those who are interested may want to consult with an ophthalmologist prior to choosing a particular model.

This article originally appeared as “An Eyewear Solution for Migraine” in the May/June 2025 issue of Experience Life.

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