Blog vol 2. 46. Lenses for Migraine Relief?
Is this possible? Or too good to be true?
A patient this week asked about special glasses they had heard provide relief when having a migraine headache. The lens in question is a type of light filter called a FL-41.
These lenses have been around since the 1980’s. They were developed by Dr. Arnold Wilkins of Cambridge University. As a result of the 70’s energy crisis, fluorescent light bulbs were used in a lot of settings. The light from these bulbs was annoying, and could trigger or worsen migraines. This is how the FL-41 came to be; FL is short for fluorescent, and a darker brown-red lens, the 41, was used to help with this lighting.
Fast-forward to the 2000’s when Dr. Bradley Katz from the University of Utah found that the colour range and saturation of the lens could be refined to produce even better results. His lens took on a lighter, more rose appearance. In 2010, researchers at Harvard University were looking at the effect of light on migraines and light sensitivity and concurred with Dr. Kazt’s earlier findings: these lenses do in fact help provide relief from light-induced migraine pain. (Read article
here).
Just exactly how does it work? There are retinal receptors, and brain centres in the thalamus, that are more sensitive to certain colours in the blue and red wavelengths and cause more intense pain and symptoms, while certain wavelengths of green reduce these symptoms.
Does this mean that you get yourself a pair of FL-41’s and all your migraine issues are gone? That would be wonderful, but not true. For the frequent migraine sufferer, however, they definitely are worth a try.
When it comes to migraines, try to keep track of possible triggering factors, you never know you might find a commonality. And, of course, regular, balanced eating, drinking of water, exercise, and rest are critical, as well as avoiding unnecessary stress. However, you can do all the right things and still have the worst migraines.
FL-41 lenses can be made in your prescription, and for the migraine sufferer may provide some small relief, and, frankly, any relief would be awesome.
til next week,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington optometrist
