I received this item to review as part of my blog, 'The Migraine Diva'. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by the company.
Do bright lights hurt when you are having a migraine attack or headache? What does it mean when you experience light sensitivity? Photophobia, another term for light sensitivity, in its literal definition means "fear of light". You may not have an actual fear of light, but photophobia is used to describe those who experience pain when exposed to light or who are light sensitive.
Photophobia is usually caused by ophthalmic (eye) or neurological (central nervous system) disorders, but it can also be caused by certain medications. Some of the conditions other than migraine and headache that can cause photophobia are dry eye disease, fibromyalgia, TBI, concussion, and post-concussion syndrome.
Photophobia affects around 80% of people living with migraine. It is one of the criteria used to diagnose migraine and is thought to be a predictor of debilitating headaches about 98 percent of the time. Between migraine attacks, individuals experiencing migraine are more sensitive to light than the general population. Furthermore, those with chronic migraine are more sensitive to light than people who have episodic attacks (Doran, 2016).
The Link Between Light and Pain
Why does bright light hurt and is there a known biological and physiological link between light and pain? Researchers found that when intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are exposed to light in the upper blue light range, it can cause pain to those who are light sensitive (Noseda et al., 2010).
A separate study showed that larger and more inflamed electrical signals are sent to the brain by blue, amber, and red wavelengths of light (Noseda et al., 2016). The same study found that green light lowers activity in the pain center of the brain, the thalamus, and has the potential to reduce pain in some people. The pain and impact of photosensitivity can be lowered when the amount of light around the green spectrum that enters the eye is reduced. Avulux has been successful in accomplishing that goal with Avulux® Migraine & Light Sensitivity Glasses.
Photosensitivity and Me
One of the more intrusive and consistent symptoms of migraine for me is light sensitivity. How much it affects me varies but it is always something I need to be prepared to deal with. So many versions of light are painful, such as sunlight, fluorescent lights, flashing/flickering light, headlights, and the light from devices. You don't realize how much it bothers you until you notice how unavoidable light is.
The first time I put on my pair of Avulux glasses, I instantly felt relief in my eyes although I didn't "notice" how fatigued and hurting they were due to the constant daily pain of intractable migraine. The pain in and around my eyes has become so normal that I have forgotten how much it affects my ability to function normally. I audibly gasped at how much relief I felt and I have never had that kind of reaction to any migraine product... EVER.
They go everywhere with me. I opted for the Lilu Frame with Clip-On. You’re able to put your prescription lenses into the Avulux frames locally and they’re accompanied by a titanium clip-on fitted with the Avulux lenses. As I wear glasses often, this option proved to be the most beneficial for me. A lot of my week is spent in front of a screen, so I need to be able to protect my eyes from the strain of looking at a laptop for hours.
These glasses make getting through meetings and interviews as well as hours doing research much less painful and triggering. No matter where you may be with migraine Avulux proves to help alleviate the painful symptoms of light sensitivity. I highly recommend getting yourself a pair.
Save on Your First Pair of Glasses!
Use the discount code MIGRAINEDIVA to save $25 on your order. You can access the Avulux website directly from my blog at the top of the page.
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