As I sat down at my desk this morning to type this post, my computer sprung to life, and I immediately squinted as the harsh glare from the screen hit my eyes. My head had that tight feeling from a bit of sinus congestion thanks to the cold weather.

Normally I can’t look at the computer when I have the slightest hint of a headache lest it bring on a full-blown migraine. Being a blogger, and working in e-commerce before that, it’s something that has always negatively affected my productivity. But not today! Today I slipped on my pair of Axon Optics therapeutic tinted lenses and got to work.

I get migraines. Not “bad headaches.” Full-on, feel like you are going to die, migraines. The kind with extreme nausea, plus light, sound and smell sensitivity. I basically have to hide in a cool dark room until it’s gone. The migraine usually lasts about 24 hours, but sometimes will linger through the next day. Occasionally they’ve put me in the hospital when I haven’t been able to stop vomiting from the pain and nausea. I know certain things will trigger them, but sometimes they come with no warning and no trigger. There’s a reason a migraine episode is referred to as an “attack.”

For me, the computer screen has always been a trigger. If I have a migraine, I can’t look at a computer until the migraine is completely gone and has been gone for a day or I will get sick in about 10 minutes and relapse. This really puts a cramp in my workload. So when I read about Axon Optics and their migraine glasses that use a special tint called SpectraShield FL-41™ to reduce exposure to certain types of artificial light known for exacerbating migraines, I knew I needed them in my life.

The FL-41 tint helps filter out blue and green artificial light which clinical studies have shown that by blocking this light, many migraineurs have reduced the frequency and severity of their migraine attacks. Migraines make you more sensitive to light overall, so the soft tint on the glasses helps as well. I had previously tried blue-blocking glasses in an attempt to cut the computer glare and did not like the bright yellow tint it gave everything. In comparison, I found the mild rose color from the Axon lenses to be soothing and unobtrusive. They were not too dark for indoor wear, yet they cut the brightness down to where the light was bearable even with a headache.

Wearing the glasses made an immediate difference. I noticed less eye strain right away. Sometimes I’d get an eye twitch if I was on the computer for too long, and I haven’t experienced that since wearing the glasses. The style I got to try is called the JURA in a classic black plastic frame. They are very lightweight to the point where at times I would forget I was even wearing them. That’s a great feature because the last thing you want when you have a headache is something heavy pressing on your face. The frames are a nice size, not too big and are pretty straight across without much curve. They work perfect for the computer screen where all the light is coming from the front, but if I was having issues with overall light sensitivity then I would want a more curved frame (which they do offer) because these do let light in on the sides.

These migraine glasses are now a part of my daily life. I don’t wear them all the time, but some people who suffer from a more overall light-sensitivity issue do choose to do that, and they make outdoor glasses for that as well. They also make contact lenses and prescription lenses for those that prefer constant wear. For me, the glasses sit on my desk, and as soon as that glare hits my eyes, it reminds me to stop squinting and slip on my stylish, yet functional migraine glasses and get to work.

You can shop Axon Optics on their website: https://www.axonoptics.com and use code AXONSHIP for free domestic shipping.

*I was sent this pair of glasses free for testing, but all opinions stated are my own and I honestly recommend trying these if you suffer from migraines and artificial light sensitivity.