26th May 2011

Tinted lenses may reduce activity in the brain associated with migraine

A new study, published today in Cephalalgia, has shown that prescribed precision ophthalmic tints (POTs) may reduce activity in the brain that is associated with migraine attacks.

Wendy Thomas, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, said:

“We welcome these findings which show there may be potential for the therapeutic use of prescribed precision ophthalmic tints (POTs) in reducing migraine attacks. Research suggests that people with migraine have a more than usually sensitive, or 'hyperexcitable' brain. Due to this sensitivity, migraine sufferers can find that their attacks may be triggered by a variety of factors, including stressful visual stimuli. This study used stressful visual stimuli to induce activity in the brain’s visual cortex. The researchers found that POTs suppressed some of this activity and reduced the level of visual discomfort. The study is small, and further research into POTs by larger groups and in practical applications, would be interesting and useful.”

It is important to remember that there is no standard treatment for migraine. Migraine sufferers should always consult their doctor to get a firm diagnosis and individual treatment advice.

You can read an article about the research on the Medical News Today website here.

Study details:

Jie Huang, Xiaopeng Zong, Arnold Wilkins, Brian Jenkins, Andrea Bozoki and Yue Cao. fMRI evidence that precision ophthalmic tints reduce cortical hyperactivation in migraine. Cephalalgia, 26 May 2011.

For press enquiries please contact Kate Scurr on 020 7631 6983 or at kscurr@migrainetrust.org.