Migraine Prevention from an Optical Perspective
Migraines are more than just headaches; they are debilitating experiences that significantly affect your quality of life. Learn more about possible causes and migraine prevention.
What are Migraines?
Migraines are a type of headache characterized by intense, throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. They are often accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, or smells. Migraines can last from a few hours to several days and can be debilitating, affecting a person’s ability to function normally.
Key Characteristics of Migraines:
- Phases: Migraines typically go through four stages, though not everyone experiences all of them:
- Prodrome: Subtle warning signs that may appear a day or two before the migraine, such as mood changes, food cravings, or neck stiffness.
- Aura: Some people experience sensory disturbances before or during migraines, such as flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in the face or hands.
- Headache: The main phase, characterized by severe pain, often on one side of the head, along with other symptoms like nausea or sensitivity to light.
- Postdrome: After the headache subsides, some people feel drained, confused, or washed out for a day or so.
- Triggers: Various factors can trigger migraines, including:
- Stress
- Hormonal changes (especially in women)
- Certain foods and drinks (like alcohol, caffeine, or aged cheeses)
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Sensory stimuli (bright lights, strong smells)
- Weather changes
- Causes: The exact cause of migraines isn’t fully understood, but they are thought to involve abnormal brain activity that affects nerve signals, chemicals, and blood vessels in the brain. Genetics also play a significant role, as migraines often run in families.
- Treatment: Treatment options vary and can include:
- Medication: Pain relievers, anti-nausea drugs, and specific migraine medications like triptans.
- Lifestyle changes: Managing stress, avoiding known triggers, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and eating a balanced diet.
- Preventive treatments: For people with frequent migraines, doctors may prescribe preventive medications or suggest therapies like biofeedback.
Migraines are a common and often chronic condition, but with proper management, many people can reduce the frequency and severity of their attacks. Migraine prevention is possible!
Optical Migraines
What causes an optical migraine? For many, the triggers and symptoms are closely linked to visual factors. At Kirman Eye, we believe that managing and preventing migraines can be effectively approached by addressing potential optical migraine causes and improving overall eye health.
- Optimize Your Prescription Lenses
Blue Light Blocking Lenses
In our digital age, prolonged screen time is almost unavoidable. Blue light from devices can cause eye strain, a common trigger that causes optic migraines. Blue light blocking lenses filter out harmful blue light, helping to reduce eye strain and prevent migraines.
Corrective Lenses
Accurate prescriptions are crucial for preventing eye strain that may contribute to migraines. Regular eye exams ensure your prescription is up-to-date, providing the right vision correction for optimal eye health.
Anti-Reflective Coating
Glare from lights, screens, and other reflective surfaces can trigger migraines. Lenses with anti-reflective coating minimize glare, providing a clearer and more comfortable visual experience.
- Use Tinted Lenses
FL-41 Tint
FL-41 rose-colored lenses are specifically designed to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines by filtering out certain wavelengths of light known to trigger migraines.
Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses can effectively reduce glare from sunlight and other bright lights, which are common migraine triggers. Always opt for high-quality polarized lenses to protect your eyes.
- Consider Contact Lenses
Daily Disposables
Daily disposable contact lenses can reduce eye irritation and dryness, both of which can contribute to migraines. They provide a fresh pair of lenses every day, ensuring maximum comfort.
Tinted Contacts
Specialized contact lenses with tints can help reduce glare and light sensitivity, which may prevent optical migraines. Consult with your eye care provider to find the best option for you.
- Improve Visual Ergonomics
Proper Lighting
Ensure your workspace is well-lit with minimal glare. Avoid working under fluorescent lights or in poorly lit conditions that can strain your eyes.
Screen Time Management
Use the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain during prolonged screen use. Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This simple practice can make a significant difference in preventing optical migraines.
- Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Early Detection
Regular eye exams can help detect issues like astigmatism, hyperopia (farsightedness), or other visual problems that might contribute to migraines. Early detection allows for timely treatment and management, which is crucial for migraine prevention.
Specialist Consultation
If your migraines are frequent and seem linked to visual issues, consider consulting with an optometrist who specializes in neuro-optometry. They can offer specialized insights and treatments for optic migraine symptoms.
- Engage in Vision Therapy
Eye Exercises
Vision therapy involves exercises to improve eye coordination and focus, which may reduce eye strain and prevent migraines. These exercises are tailored to your specific needs by a professional.
Posture and Ergonomics
Training on how to maintain proper posture and workspace setup can reduce the likelihood of migraines. Ergonomic adjustments can alleviate stress on your eyes and overall posture, contributing to better migraine management.
- Try Photochromic Lenses
Photochromic lenses darken in response to sunlight, offering protection from bright light and reducing the risk of migraines triggered by sudden changes in lighting conditions. These lenses provide seamless protection, indoors and outdoors.
Avulux Migraine & Light Sensitivity Lenses
Up to 60% of migraine attacks are actually triggered by light. Blue and amber light affect cells in your eye that secrete melanopsin, and it can lead to migraine attacks and increased light-triggered pain. Avulux’s patented precision lens technology filters up to 97% of blue, amber, and red light while allowing in over 70% of soothing green light, which may help people living with migraine. Avulux lenses absorb the wavelengths that excite and activate the ipRGCs that release melanopsin, while allowing in a fair balance of soothing green light.
Avulux migraine glasses:
- Are highly effective.
- Are completely safe as there are no adverse side effects.
- Can be worn continuously and you will not build a tolerance to its positive effects.
- Can be worn as a complement to medical treatments, as needed.
Avulux Migraine Glasses are the only glasses that align with the most recent science on light, migraine, and pain. The patented Avulux Migraine & Light Sensitivity lens is unique and Avulux is the only supplier of this new migraine optical filter technology that was developed over eight years of engineering and testing.
Kirman Eye is a proud distributor of Avulux migraine & photophobia lenses. Contact us if you are interested in trying them for a new level of migraine pain relief. These may a feasible solution to your migraine prevention plan.
Finding Your Best Solution to Migraine Pain
By addressing these visual factors, you can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Remember, a comprehensive optical migraine treatment plan involves working closely with both your optometrist and healthcare provider. At Kirman Eye Optical Services, we are committed to helping you achieve optimal eye health and migraine relief.
If you are interested in treatment for your optical migraines, our experts at Kirman Eye have a wealth of experience in helping patients deal with this persistent problem, and we’re equipped with a number of helpful options. Let us show you how to get rid of an optical migraine.
Your partners at Kirman Eye are passionately dedicated to providing our patients with the best and most effective eye-care options available when anticipating all of your optical needs. Ready to take control of your migraine triggers? Book an appointment with us today and discover how we can help you manage and prevent optical migraines.
Contact us to work with you today!
