Home Lifestyle Do Migraine Glasses Do Anything? Here’s What You Should Know

Do Migraine Glasses Do Anything? Here’s What You Should Know

They may not solve migraine issues completely, but migraine glasses can seriously mitigate the discomfort associated with migraines.

By Taneia Surles, MPH
October 31, 2023

No one wants to deal with a migraine—but they happen. The feeling of someone pounding your head with a hammer certainly makes it difficult to navigate your daily obligations.

Migraine glasses have surged in popularity recently, and are one option to help relieve the debilitating pain and light sensitivity. If you don’t know what migraine glasses are, if they work, or what the best ones to purchase are, we’ve got you.

If you’re like “get me to the glasses already!” we get it (dire times). Our top choice is the THL Blue Light Blocking Reading Glasses.

What Are Migraine Glasses?

Migraine glasses are glasses with a rose-colored FL-41 filter that can aid in managing symptoms of migraine headaches, blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking or twitching), light-triggered seizures, computer vision syndrome, and other conditions that cause light sensitivity (1).

According to research, a thin film of FL-41 tint on a pair of glasses may help treat chronic migraine symptoms (2).

Another benefit of migraine glasses is that they are often available as a prescription, which can help cut costs, especially if your insurance plan covers them.

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The Best Migraine Glasses on the Market

THL blue light blocking glasses on grey background

THL Blue Light Blocking Reading Glasses

THL Blue Light Blocking Reading Glasses block 99.5 percent of blue light and can even help you sleep better. We found that wearing these glasses while using devices at night could help prevent digital eye strain or migraines. They also double as reading glasses, offering strengths of +1, +2, +2.5, and +3.

The frames are made with skin-friendly acetate with amber-colored lenses. If you’re not fond of square frames, the manufacturer also offers pantos, round, browline, and oversized frames. If you wear the glasses outside, don’t worry about annoying glares, as the lenses have an anti-reflective coating.

Other benefits of these migraine glasses are that they can double as anti-fatigue computer glasses and have UV protection 400. You can find these glasses on Amazon.

Pros

Super affordable
Blocks vast majority of blue light
Doubles as reading glasses
Numerous shape and color options

Cons

Frame feels a little cheap

Blue Light Blocking Reading Glasses

THL

$35 (Amazon)

Classic TheraSpecs

The Classic TheraSpecs are said to reduce migraine episodes by 74 percent and alleviate light sensitivity and eye strain. These rose-colored sunglasses are coated in FL-41 to remove blue light and are dark and polarized. We like these TR-90 frames because they’re lightweight, so they won’t put too much pressure on your face and they can protect your eyes from artificial light and sunlight.

These migraine glasses are available as non-prescription, prescription, or reading glasses and every pair comes with a complimentary eyeglass case and microfiber cleaning cloth to keep your lenses streak-free.

You can personalize these glasses to your liking, with the option to choose the indoor (for fluorescent light or devices), outdoor lens (for glare and sunlight), or a combination of both on Theraspec’s website.

Pros

Customizable
UVA/UVB-blocking
Available prescription, non-prescription, and as reading glasses

Cons

Can get pricey depending on your needs

Classic TheraSpecs

TheraSpecs

$99 (TheraSpecs)

Axon Optics Jura Glasses

Axon Optics Jura sunglasses contain Avulux lenses, which are the only clinically available lenses for people with migraines and light sensitivity. These lenses can filter blue, amber, and red light to reduce or prevent painful migraine headaches. The manufacturers offer a virtual try-on option, allowing you to “try before you buy” to get a feel for the glasses before pulling out your debit card.

Don’t let the price scare you away. With these sunglasses being on the more expensive side, we like that they are FSA/HSA eligible and offer interest-free installment plans, which may help you save some money.

The glasses have a lightweight design and spring hinges that won’t be too snug on your head.

You can purchase them as prescription, non-prescription, or reading glasses on Zenni’s website.

Pros

Lenses filter blue, amber, and red light
FSA/HSA eligible
Sturdier than budget options

Cons

Pricy if you're not purchasing with insurance or FSA/HSA

Jura Glasses

Axon Optics

$335 (Axon Optics)

Zenni Optical Square Glasses

These Zenni Square Glasses with specialty lenses for migraines are available in a stylish square frame and tortoise shell design. They have a lightweight stainless steel frame with slim hinges. We like that they have adjustable nose pads that can provide extra comfort while wearing these glasses. They also have anti-scratch coating and UV protection, keeping your glasses scratch-free and protecting your eyes from the sun.

If you don’t want to spend too much on migraine glasses, this pair is under $50, making them one of the more affordable options to help with your migraines.

If you love customizing things, Zenni lets you engrave the frames with text or icons. You can even put the logo of your favorite sports team on your frames.

The migraine glasses come in various lens types, such as blue-light blocking, transitions, photochromic, clear, and regular sunglasses, which you can order through the manufacturer’s website.

Pros

Clean, simple designs
Adjustable nose pads
Extremely affordable
UV protection
Tons of lens options

Cons

Not built to last

Square Glasses

Zenni Optical

$30 (Zenni Optical)

ShadyVEU Super Dark Lens Round Sunglasses

If you’re not the biggest fan of rose or orange-colored lenses, these ShadyVEU Super Dark Lens Round Sunglasses may be a better choice for you. We like that these sunglasses have a retro feel, making them a stylish option for migraine prevention. The glasses have privacy lenses that are much darker than typical black lenses, so you can give people the death stare without them ever noticing.

The lenses are non-polarized and have a clear UV protection coating. For your frames, you can choose a soft or glossy black finish.

They have 100% UV protection with a 400 UV coating on the lenses. The spring hinges comfortably fit any head size, so they won’t trigger headaches or discomfort. We can’t forget to mention that they’re the cheapest migraine glasses on our list, coming in at under $20.

You can find these Ray-Ban-esque shades on Amazon.

Pros

Ultra-budget option
Dark lenses instead of rose- or orange-colored
Not bad looking for general wear
100 percent UV protection

Cons

Not built to last
Limited protection outside of UV light

Super Dark Lens Round Sunglasses

ShadyVEU

$20 (Amazon)

Do Migraine Glasses Work?

In a word: yes. By the looks of it, the research speaks for itself. It seems that wearing tinted glasses, specifically those with FL-41 lenses, could reduce light sensitivity that triggers migraines. Or at least help reduce the intensity of your symptoms.

What Do Migraine Glasses Do?

Migraine glasses can help reduce or prevent migraine symptoms by filtering out light sources, such as blue light and UV light, that can trigger an episode. These glasses can also protect your eyes from artificial light and sunlight.

Who Needs Migraine Glasses?

If you have migraines, these glasses are for you.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, around 39 million people in the United States have migraines (3). Migraine symptoms can include headache pain, nausea, confusion, mood changes, fatigue, blurred vision, and photophobia (4).

Do you ever wonder why you get migraines after seeing flashes of light? Photophobia, or light sensitivity, is one of the most common migraine symptoms and is often a warning sign of an impending migraine. Bright or flickering light and specific patterns and colors may trigger migraine episodes (5).

Migraines may also cause an aura. An aura can cause light flashes, blind spots in vision, or even tingling in your arm and leg (6). As if migraine pain by itself wasn’t enough of a nuisance, right?