Featuring Cynthia E. Armand, MDReviewed by Alexandra Schwarz, MD | June 15, 2022

One of the most common symptoms of migraine is photosensitivity, or severe sensitivity to light. Photosensitivity among people with migraine is so common—affecting around 85 percent of people with migraine—that it’s actually one of the diagnostic criteria, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

“Light can emit certain wavelengths that can cause discomfort to the eyes,” says Cynthia Armand, MD, neurologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. “The brain interprets it in a way [that] can trigger a migraine attack.” (Learn more about common migraine triggers here.)

Photosensitivity is one of the reasons many people find relief in dark rooms while they are experiencing a migraine. However, if bright lights are a major trigger for you, it’s unrealistic (and not recommended) to completely avoid light in your everyday life.

“There are so many things that individuals can do in order to limit photosensitivity. One of the more common treatments that we talk about in our offices as headache specialists is for individuals to wear certain sunglasses,” says Dr. Armand.

You might find *some* relief from a standard pair of sunglasses from the gas station mart, but that’s not what’s recommended for migraine prevention. To find the best sunglasses to prevent migraines, you should speak to an eyecare provider. They can help inform you of the various frames and lenses that will bring you better relief.

When looking for sunglasses to prevent migraine, you’ll want to look for the following characteristics, according to Dr. Armand:

Polarized lenses: “We want to make sure that the tinting involves a polarized type of tint that scatters light [and] decreases glare,” says Dr. Armand.
The FL-41 tint: Certain wavelengths of light are more likely to trigger migraine than others. FL-41 is a special, therapeutic tinted lens with a rose-hued appearance that helps filter out blue-green light.
Frames with good coverage: The tiny frames from the 1990s would not work in this situation. “Make sure [you] choose certain frames that can help block light that comes from above, that comes from the side, and that causes glare that comes from the back,” says Dr. Armand.

You may also need to wear your sunglasses indoors to deal with triggers like fluorescent lights, computer screens, and so on. However, wearing sunglasses indoors too much can lead to something called chronic dark adaptation, which can actually make your sensitivity to light even worse. For those indoor triggers, always look for other adaptations, such as turning off fluorescent lights or adjusting or tinting your computer screen. If wearing sunglasses indoors, be sure to take occasional breaks to avoid chronic dark adaptation.

If you’re wearing the recommended sunglasses and still experiencing migraine from photosensitivity, make an appointment with a headache specialist. “There might be an issue that’s not being addressed,” says Dr. Armand. “Photosensitivity can be a hallmark of uncontrolled migraines, so we want to make sure that they have the right management on board that can supplement the sunglasses in order to decrease the photosensitivity much better.”

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