More than just headaches, migraines are a complex neurological condition affecting one out of every seven adults, with women three times as likely to experience them than men. Among the most challenging symptoms is photophobia, where light not only causes discomfort but can actually trigger an attack. For anyone living with migraines or light sensitivity, the right pair of glasses can make a world of difference. But how did migraine glasses come to be? The journey from early eye protection to today’s migraine lenses is fascinating, blending ancient ingenuity, medical discovery and modern technology.
FROM PHARAOHS TO PHARMA
The first written record of a migraine dates back to 1200 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia. References to headaches can be found in both magical and medical papyri from Greco-Roman Egypt, with the former attributing the condition to supernatural forces and the latter text emphasizing head trauma. Both papyri contained therapeutic actions corresponding to the source of the headache: magical spells in the magical papyri, and herbal remedies in the medical papyri.
Fast-forward to 400 BCE, where Hippocrates described a condition with shimmering lights and visual disturbances; this is what we now know today as an aura. By the Middle Ages, treatments involving trepanation (drilling holes in the skull) became commonplace to “let the bad spirits out.” Fortunately, treatment no longer sounds or looks like a horror film.
Early attempts at light protection include “snow goggles” crafted by Inuit people using natural materials like bone, driftwood, walrus ivory and antlers. These goggles had narrow slits to reduce the amount of sunlight reflecting off snow, which could cause visual discomfort similar to what many migraine sufferers experience today. It’s been rumored and debated that Roman Emperor Nero used to wear sunglasses at night at the fight, using green stones (possibly emeralds!) to watch gladiator games. It supposedly reduced glare from the sun.
By the 12th century, Chinese judges wore flat panels of smoky quartz over their eyes to hide their expressions at court. Although it was for privacy and not medical reasons at the time, these early tinted lenses laid the groundwork for the notion that colored lenses could alter how light is experienced.
In the 1700s, Englishman James Ayscough invented what is believed to be the first pair of sunglasses, using blue and green glass to minimize glare and assist with poor eyesight. Sunglasses became widely available in the 1920s and 1930s as fashion accessories and later as essential protection against harmful UV rays. Polarized lenses helped reduce glare for pilots and drivers, showing that specific lens technologies could target particular light problems.
But it wasn’t until the late 20th century that researchers began to focus on the needs of people with migraines and photophobia.
ANCIENT PAIN, MODERN SHADE
FL-41 was first described in a research project in Birmingham, England, in the early 1990s. FL-41 isn’t a mysterious code—it stands for "Filter Layer 41,” a rose-colored tint originally designed to help people with blepharospasm, a condition involving involuntary eye twitching. The children who wore the boysenberry colored spectacles saw improvement in their light sensitivity, as well as the frequency and severity of their migraines.
Around the same time, researchers at the University of Utah’s Moran Eye Center began investigating how certain wavelengths of light could trigger migraines. They found that blue-green wavelengths, specifically around 480-520 nanometers, were especially problematic. They developed filters that improved upon FL-41 lenses which are now licensed from the University of Utah.
Before migraine-specific eyewear existed, most people used sunglasses to dull the glare. However, using standard sunglasses indoors can exacerbate photophobia in the long run by training the eyes to become more light-averse: a condition known as dark adaptation. Today, FL-41 lenses are widely recommended by neurologists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists for reducing migraine frequency and intensity. They don’t “cure” migraines, but they make living with them a lot more manageable.
FILTERING THE FUTURE
In recent years, companies and research centers have expanded on the original FL-41 research, and developed new variations of migraine lenses for different needs:
-Photochromic FL-41 lenses that darken outdoors and lighten indoors
-Polarized FL-41 sunglasses for additional glare protection
-Customized tints based on individual light sensitivity profiles
Meanwhile, researchers are exploring other color spectrums that might reduce pain. For example, Harvard Medical School scientists found that exposure to narrow-band green light could reduce migraine intensity by 20% while improving comfort and even sleep.
LITTLE LIGHTBULB MOMENTS
-Claude Monet may have had light sensitivity linked to cataracts and migraines. His later paintings appear more red, possibly due to changes in how he perceived color.
-In the 1800s, neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot called migraines the disease of civilization, blaming modern stress and overstimulation. Sound familiar?
-The World Health Organization classifies migraines as one of the top 10 most disabling medical conditions globally.
LOOKING AHEAD WITH SOFTER LIGHT
The evolution of migraine glasses is a story of progress—from bone goggles and emeralds to scientifically designed lenses that offer real relief. As our understanding of migraines and light sensitivity continues to grow, so too will the options for those seeking comfort and clarity.
So whether you're reading this on a backlit screen or printed on off-white paper (smart move!), just know: looking at life through rose-colored glasses isn’t so naïve, especially when they’re FL-41 and migraine-approved.
