STORY BYSpecially formulated contact lenses may be just what the doctor ordered to treat migraine headaches, if a recent study bears out.
Researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston discovered that colored lenses versus control lenses may actually rid migraine suffers of their crippling pain.
"These contact lenses provide fast relief, but it doesn't work for everybody," says Dr. Thomas Prager, clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UT Medical School.
The discovery was made by one of Prager's colleagues, Kathleen Faathoff, a low-vision specialist at the medical school.
In the study designed by Prager, 40 study participants received control lenses and treatment lenses to demonstrate the effectiveness of the colored, soft contact lenses. Both sets of lenses were of similar density.
After receiving the control lenses, the study participants were given the treatment lenses. Many of the participants who received the treatment lenses said their migraine symptoms disappeared within 45 minutes.
Since Prager's team is still accepting volunteers into the clinical trial, exact description of the lens is not divulged.
Migraine headaches cause intense, pulsating pain usually in a localized area of the head. Side effects can include extreme sensitivity to sound and light, and nausea and vomiting. Some sufferers can predict a migraine attack when an aura - visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights or wavy lines - appears preceding the actual headache. Others have olfactory changes, such as smelling the scent of oranges.
Migraines are more common than you might think. According to the National Headache Foundation, 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Migraines are three times more common in women than in men. One in four individuals in American households has migraines and sufferers lose more than 157 workdays a year.
For years, previous research has shown that migraines were caused by dilation of blood vessels in the head. Now, scientists believe that genetic defects in certain brain cells may be one of the culprits.
Are contact lenses the magic bullet in treating or even preventing migraines? Prager says a long-term study is needed to substantiate his team's early findings about contact lens therapy.
"These contact lenses are not a permanent fix," Prager says. "It appears that the visual cortex is involved in migraines, but we need to understand the mechanism and complete the study before we decide how to use this treatment."
If the study results are positive and the experimental contact lenses are approved and put on the market, Prager says the lenses could become an alternative form of treatment that doesn't involve medication for migraine sufferers.
"The treatment contact lenses may provide a safe and inexpensive option," Prager says. "It could empower patients to take control of their condition by interrupting or even preventing a migraine attack."
Last Updated: 7-06-2004
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), the most comprehensive academic health center in The UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, is home to schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry, medicine, nursing and public health. UTHealth educates more healthcare professionals than any health-related institution in the State of Texas and features the nation’s seventh-largest medical school. It also includes a psychiatric hospital and a growing network of clinics throughout the region. The university’s primary teaching hospitals include Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. Founded in 1972, UTHealth’s 10,000-plus faculty, staff, students and residents are committed to delivering innovative solutions that create the best hope for a healthier future.
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Dr. Thomas Prager is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UTHealth Medical School.
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Simple Ways to Help
Young and Old Eyes
May is Healthy Vision Month and it is imperative to take care of eyes whether they’re young or old.
Children should have their vision checked by age 6, even if there aren’t any signs of eye problems. Healthy eyes and vision are very important to a child’s development. Finding and treating eye problems early on can save a child’s sight. Two common eye problems in children are:
Both of these eye problems can be treated if they are found early.
Here are ways to help your child develop vision skills:
Don’t let poor vision put elders at risk. Leave a three-foot, clear path through each room of their house. Outline edges of steps, coffee tables, doorways and bathtubs with colored tape to contrast with surrounding areas. Install lights along outdoor pathways and keep foyers well lit to avoid having to enter dark areas. Replace switch plates with colors that contrast with walls, or outline them with tape of contrasting colors. It is also always smart to use nightlights during the night.
