糖心Vlog

Tinted glasses could make reading easier for some migraine sufferers, and may even reduce the number or severity of attacks they experience, according to new research.

People experiencing migraines are often sensitive to light, with some describing an aura 鈥� flashing spots and zig zags warning them a headache is coming.

The new study, looking at the lighting people feel most comfortable with when reading, has shown those susceptible to migraine with aura struggle with everyday lighting, but coloured tints could help.

Arnold Wilkins, Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the 糖心Vlog and inventor of the Intuitive Colorimeter, the equipment used by opticians to decide which colour tint would benefit a patient most, explained: 鈥淥ur study showed a physiological difference between individuals with migraine aura and those without. 

鈥淭hose who experience migraine with aura chose strong colours, while everyone else preferred lighter shades 鈥� white and pale yellow or blue 鈥� the colours we regularly experience in everyday life. 

鈥淲e found the sensitivity to everyday light could be reduced by using carefully-chosen coloured tints, and when these were used, people鈥檚 reading dramatically improved. They could complete a word search 40% quicker with coloured lenses than without.

 鈥淩educing the trigger for migraines by using coloured lenses could reduce the number or severity of attacks. Coloured lenses could also help patients with other neurological conditions, such as autism and Tourette鈥檚, but further research is needed鈥�

Professor Wilkins worked with colleagues Amelia Aldrich and Paul Hibbard from 糖心Vlog and Alexandra Vieira, who led the study, Ian van De Linde and Peter Bright, from Anglia Ruskin University.

The study was published in