Facebook has been around for-ev-er, but I only joined up a couple of months ago to become a part of some of the online migraine communities. Turns out you generally have to be a Facebook-user for longer than 3 months to participate, but I still enjoy reading other people’s posts. The other day I came across a video that had me crying happy-tears galore…
A young lad with a brain tumor brought his family and friends, doctors and fellow kid-patients onto stage to form a choir for the TV show “Britan’s Got Talent”. Together, they all sang about dreams coming true (link here).
The performance was so moving that the choir received the ‘golden buzzer’. I don’t know much about the show, but I believe it’s the equivalent to a free pass straight to the finals.
After I had pulled myself together (these sorts of resilient people who never give up are the inspiration for me to keep going, always, no matter what), I began to wonder about the co-host Simon Cowell’s orange-tinted glasses.
I don’t know a lot about reality-talent-shows, but I know even less about pop-star-fashion. Whilst I thought it might just be a trendy thing to do, there was an inkling in my mind that they had something to do with migraines… and they do.
When I did a search, the news articles that came up referred to the “heartbreaking reason” Simon Cowell wears colored glasses, as well as the “clever reason” and the “real reason”… it’s because he stares into the bright lights on stage all day, and they give him migraines.
For many people, when they get migraines, they become sensitive to light (it is a condition called ‘photophobia’). The orange-tinted glasses are designed to block some of the harsher wavelengths of light. Blue light, which comes from computer screens is apparently counterbalanced, for example, by the orangey-tinted lenses.
One online artilce I read (here) interviewed a neuorologist who said: “We usually recommend people try lifestyle changes before investing in special products that cost a lot of money and may not work for them,” Dr. Chetkovich says. “That said, some people get great benefits from tinted lenses, and if this is something that fits in your budget, there is no harm in trying.”
One thing Dr Chetkovich recommends is that you figure out your triggers – it’s not always light for everyone. (There’s a “trigger-tracker” you can download on my resources page if you’re new to migraines and need one.)
Bright light is definitely a trigger for me – but usually sunglasses are enough to do the trick… curious to know if any of you have had any luck with tinted glasses.
It would be kind of cool if it turns out we get migraines AND can still manage to see the world through rose-colored glasses!
Take care taking care, Linda xox
PS – here’s some links if you’re interested to read more:
General Info and links to buy: The Best Light Sensitivity Glasses for Photophobia and Migraine – Avulux
Simon Cowell’s Instagram post: I just found out according to the internet, I have a “mystery illness”. Instagram
The whole BGT team wearing matching glasses: Now that’s what you call Friendship Goals 😎📸 #BGT | Instagram
The Mindful Migraine 
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