Effect of Tinted Lenses on Migraine Patients as Assessed by Pupil Response and Heart Rate Variability Analysis

ABSTRACT Background Patients with migraines cite light as a trigger for headaches, highlighting the need for preventive measures like visual environment improvements. Tinted lenses are optical aids that suppress visible light transmission. Since their selection relies on subjective evaluation, objective assessment is necessary to confirm their effectiveness. Aim To investigate the effects of tinted lenses on the autonomic nervous system of patients with migraines by analyzing pupil response and heart rate variability. Methods Ten patients with migraine and 16 controls were included. The participants performed the experiment in a completely dark room in a supine position. A display projecting a white background was fixed 30 cm in front of the eyes as a light stimulus. Changes in pupil size and heart rate were measured before and after light stimulus. The experiment was performed under three conditions: no lenses, blue‐tinted lenses, and green‐tinted lenses. In addition, a visual analog scale was used to measure photophobia. Results When green‐tinted lenses were used, a decrease in the pupil constriction rate was observed. In the heart rate variability analysis, the sympathetic nerve index was significantly higher in patients with migraine than in the control group with no lens and blue‐tinted lenses, but there was no difference in the green‐tinted lens group. Photophobia was significantly higher in the migraine group than in the control group under all conditions. Conclusion Wearing tinted lenses that suppress short‐wavelength transmission in patients with migraine has been suggested to decrease the pupil constriction rate and suppress sympathetic nervous system indices.