NEW RESEARCH _ - Tinted lenses may reduce activity in the brain associated with migraine

A new study, published today (7th June 2011) in Cephalalgia, has shown that prescribed precision ophthalmic tints (POTs) may reduce activity in the brain that is associated with migraine attacks.

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Migraine sufferers really do experience relief when they use tinted specs or lenses, and for the first time functional magnetic resonance imaging appears to provide neurological proof, researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan reported in the journal Cephalalgia. (Cephalalgia means headache. From the Greek 'kephale', meaning 'head', and Greek 'algos', meaning 'pain')

The authors explained that experts had been unable to explain why tinted glasses helped relieve migraine symptoms. This study has shown how colored glasses tailored to each individual migraine sufferer worked by stabilizing brain activity.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/226465.php

I looked in to this last year and never got round to doing it - but I think I will now.

I do wear brown tinted lenses a lot , but I think you need a test done to work out what colour helps you most. I will try and find the company I spoke to.

Migraine sufferers see colour

Another article on the subject


In New Zealand, 15% of women and 6% of men suffer from migraines. Between 40-50% of sufferers have a family history of migraines and attacks can last between 4 and 72 hours. The cause is not understood and there is no cure. An instrument, the ‘colorimeter’, which emanates a rainbow of colours is giving fresh hope to many migraine sufferers.

The colorimeter allows coloured light to be projected onto a page of text or a striped pattern that migraine sufferers would normally find visually disturbing. Many migraine sufferers are sensitive to a particular colour, by having a lens tinted with a colour that will absorb the offending colour, this may assist in hindering the onset of migraines. For example many sufferers find that a migraine will be triggered by an excessive amount of glare. However it is generally a particular colour they are sensitive to. So although a standard grey sunglass lens may assist, a blue-green lens, which absorbs mostly red light, would be more effective.

Bridgman & Dean Optometrists purchased a colorimeter two years ago, partly for research purposes. Placebo controlled studies published in the UK optometric and medical literature demonstrated the effectiveness of Cerium tinted lenses in assisting children with specific reading difficulties. It was felt by Gavin and David Bridgman, given the work they weredoing with learner readers, that the Colorimeter would be auseful addition to the practice

http://cdn.bernell.com/downloads/Migraine.pdf

Found it:

This is the article that made me look into it.
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For many migraineurs, light sensitivity can be a trigger for an attack, or a symptom experienced during one, but either way, migraine and light are very often linked.

Common sources of bright light that are everyday potential hazards include sunlight, fluorescent tubes, halogen spots, computers, TV screens (especially LCD and plasma), car headlights, as well as reflected glare e.g. from water or off whitewashed walls.

The link between light and headache was better understood through the work of Dr Andy Dowson (Headache Service, King's College Hospital, London) and Alan Maine (European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences) that found migraine sufferers are specifically sensitive to the red and blue parts of the spectrum. Knowing that neither photochromic or regular tinted lenses offer any such protection, the question was what could be done to help?

Migraine Action Association and Dr Dowson subsequently ran a study with a company called Mediview, to investigate the impact on frequency and severity of attacks in migraine and chronic daily headache sufferers when using a spectacle lens (MigraLens) designed to filter blue and red light.

Comparing data from before and after the test study showed significant improvements in key areas:

90% experienced a reduction in headache intensity and 60% a reduction in frequency and duration of headache.

Their effectiveness in sunlight and other sources of bright light was rated as ‘very good or excellent' by up to 90% of people, with 91% preferring MigraLens over all other tinted glasses previously used.

People chose how often and when to wear them and on completing the study 87% intended to continue using them.

So, for the first time, there is now a spectacle lens specifically designed for migraine and daily headache. MigraLens is now available direct from MediView either as non-prescription or as made to prescription lenses as well as in clip-ons for use over existing glasses.

For more information about Mediview, call 020 8933 7914, email info@migralens.com or visit http://www.migralens.com/

I can't remember if I've said or not, but I wear freaky green colorimetry lenses at the computer. I hope you're picturing it!

Seriously, I find they help with 'pattern glare', ie letters stand out better and don't dance around.

The down side is that I can't wear them anywhere else, or I'd (a) look very odd (b) see the world in shades of green. For that reason, you aren't legally allowed to drive in them.

edit: thinking about it, maybe I should be wearing them more... like to watch TV. I tried to watch a film at the cinema with them once, but had to switch to my non tinted lenses after a couple of minutes of watching the film in lurid green!

Oh that's interesting, did you have a test done to see what colour you should have - ie the lurid green lol

I have found this other company and they are saying you need to be tested http://www.irlen.co.uk/ so I am not sure what to do now.

I do know that the prescription sunglasses I wear, help a lot, especially with store lights and white walls - so I think I do need to look into this more - but not sure if I should go for the standard ones or get the test done. hmmmmmmmmmmm

Yes, I had a colorimetry test a few years ago now. They tried to make them as pale as possible, but unfortunately I needed them quite dark and lurid!!

I'd recommend it. The only down side (apart from the look of them, of course) is the price.

Sarah where did you have the test - was it at a Irlen centre?

It was here:

http://www.patrickandmenzies.co.uk/

Thank you I will have a look to find local company - but now I know I need a COLORIMETRY TINTS test thanks

Here you go ladies http://www.ceriumoptical.com/vistech/specialists.aspx
This lists the companies that do it

There's one near me..will ring tomorrow.
Thanks

Is it wrong that I can't wait to find out what colours you end up with, if you go with it?

Seriously though, I obviously really hope it's helpful to you.

LMAO - Oh that made me laugh - You just do not want to be the only lurid green glasses wearer!

I am going to call tomorrow too - I bet any money Jane and I get the same damn colour!!!!!

I am not sure if green or yellow is worse or pink!

... no it's not wrong it's really funny..on many levels

I hope it's not yellow..it is SO not my colour..I think whatever it is I will end up looking like a very dodgy Elton John impersonator..ah actually on second thoughts it will probably be more Dame Edna.

Whatever Tee gets she will look cool..she always does..and yes well will most certainly have the same colours as we have decided we were separated at birth ...in a kind of ying and yang sort of way..

LOL shut up - I am just choosy to the pics I put up - the doddgy ones go in the bin The normal me is sat in PJs with a few food stains and hair all over the place

Elton John actual came to mind too - I wondered it they did them in star shapes lol

Well I have made my appointment - next Wednesday

Pssst... I don't want to worry you, but it's possible that you could even end up with one colour for each eye!!!

Can't wait to hear how you get on!

Very interesting, those Elton John glasses seem an idea, the film Tommy comes to mind......lol

I have my tv sets set to low power as this takes a lot of glare off the screen, main one is a 50inch plasma but have a 48inch LED in the bedroom and the low power setting is really good with a low glare setting, also putting the contrast set to about one third and brightness just less than a half.

I have the transition lenses which goes to a browny/green tint, but a low tint when normal and helps me a lot as can't stand bright sunlight.

Another question is how many of us use the low energy bulbs as this can give off a type of glare which may effect migraine sufferers, also a very low humming noise, I remember reading this in a journal somewhere on the BBC site earlier this year, have to try and locate it.

Photo's please of all the new glasses.....lol

Graham

LMAO _ OH Sarah you have a cruel streak - love it I am going for one orange and one purple now I know that

And yes Graham I will post a pic We all need a giggle

I also have the TV set low, in fact I have one TV and my husband has another I also have the PC screen turned down low and its the reason why the forum is pink! - I am not a pink person, but was lucky enough to read some research that people can read better on a pink background - hence why the financial times is pink - Saying that if you find the colour of the forum hard - let me know - it can be changed?

And a BIG NO to low energy light bulbs, they are a trigger for me, so our whole house has the normal light bulbs, not sure how will get one with getting those on a few years time - but I did read recently that Philips are working on a low energy bulb that does not 'flicker' . I remember having a heated discussion with the building inspector when we had the garage conversion - he insisted we had low energy light bulbs - it ended with me politely telling where to stuff them LMAO

Another thing that gets me is white/pale walls - when the insurance assessor came round, he could not believe I had made hubby decorate the whole house to get rid of the pale walls LOL I found a paint called 'restful' from Homebase and it is so easy on the eyes

Here you go, here are my specs!

Ohh I actually really like those! I can go all Hippy again!

Had a long chat with the optician who will be testing me and it was really interesting. I can't get checked until July but by then we should have arogues gallery of spectacular spectacles!

They guy said it's usually the blue green spectrum that reacts which white that give mig suffers the photo sensitivity problems...

Jane
x

Oh I like those too - still want star shaped ones lol

you and me are gonna be weird old ladies Tee...promise me that if I end up in a wheelchair you will push me to the shoe shop so I can buy the fanciest, highest pair of heels never meant for walking in...and the have to be either purple or RED.