Specs Appeal: Do Migraine Glasses Work?
My new cute pink glasses combat migraines and definitely have specs appeal!
Hello, Gorgeous!
If we’ve ever met in real life, you’ve probably noticed that I most often wear bold eyeglasses (bold in frame and color).
My current glasses rotation includes purple, green, fuchsia/tortoise, and a brand new pair of pink specs with a difference. My new glasses are tinted pink in the hopes of combatting migraines.
Why a pink tint?
Many migraine sufferers have photophobia, a sensitivity to light. I do. Migraines can be triggered by specific types of light.
On the most basic level, glasses with a unique pink tint can filter harmful wavelengths and lights —like blue light from your screens or fluorescent overhead light —that might trigger headaches and migraine attacks.
FL-41 lenses to block migraines
There are several variants of migraine glasses, most with pink tints. The lens proven most effective is FL-41 (fluorescent 41) which blocks blue light along with a touch of green light. While I can’t speak to the specifics of migraine glasses (I won’t even try to compare FL-41 with competitor Avulux lenses), I will offer a disappointing caveat. If you’re prone to aura migraines as well, your cute new glasses won’t do much. I had a colorful rager two days after trying my new migraine glasses. And before you ask, your blue-light blocking glasses only block blue light, so they won’t help with migraines.
In case you’re wondering why I know quite a bit about this, I worked with two former clients* deep in the prescription glasses world. Between the two, I spent a lot of time in meetings discussing the intricacies of everything eyeglasses, and I also wrote and researched far too much on blue light and its effects.
I may earn a small commission from sales made using the links in this post. (Probably not, since I’m kinda lazy about chasing down affiliate programs).
Are migraine glasses flattering?
I decided to go all out with my new glasses and chose bright pink frames to match the dusty rose tint. They’re oddly flattering, with a note of mystery to them. I chose Zenni Square Glasses in Hibiscus with the FL-41 tint at 25% (and at no extra charge for the tint). Even with my extremely complicated prescription and super thin lenses the full price was $120.90, which felt like a manageable splurge. I suspect another pair is in my future.
You won’t be able to get transition lenses with FL-41 tinted glasses, so these might not be great for outdoor use on sunny days.
I’m happy with my new pink glasses
While I can’t prove one way or another whether my migraine eyeglasses actually do much of anything, I love mine. My eyes feel less stressed even when staring at a screen for too many hours (next up: not staring at a screen for too long). There’s also a level of sharpness that compare to the way amber lenses help filter light at night.
If you’d like to take a deeper dive into pink migraine glasses, there’s a comprehensive article about migraine glasses on migrainedisorders.com.
Have you been considering migraine glasses, or do you already have a pair or two? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss.
Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋
*Essilor, the world leader in prescription glasses, and Glasses USA.
I also have photo sensitivity and discovering Zenni's migraine glasses have been a god send. I have three pairs with different tints and wear them religiously - fluorescent lights are awful for me and the glare from natural light is hard on my head. Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention. xxoo
Oh my gosh! I had no idea there were glasses for migraines!
Putting this on my todo list as last year my eyes hurt so bad after finishing my book I didn’t look at a computer screen for 3 months!
I know… not the best pr idea, but hey, sometimes you just need a break!