Blue light, amber light and migraine: what studies show

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerBlue light activates the pathways linked to light-triggered headache, and in Noseda's 2016 study blue light worsened migraine headache more than green. But amber light did too, so warm or amber screens are not clearly protective. One 2024 study found a very warm 2800 K screen caused the most visual fatigue.

Evidence

  • Noseda et al. 2016: blue, amber and red lights exacerbated headache; green less so.
  • IJHCI 2024: 2800 K screens caused the highest visual fatigue at both 450 lx and 3 lx; 4500 K did best in the dark.

Practical take

  • Moderate warmth may be more comfortable than maximum warmth.
  • Migraine Mode's default tint is soft green at 40%; amber is an option but the studies above do not favour it.

FAQ

Are blue light glasses proven for migraine?

No strong evidence was found for generic blue-blocking. The best-studied lens tint is rose FL-41, and that evidence is from small studies; for light colour, green did best in two migraine studies.

Sources

  • Noseda R, … Burstein R. Migraine photophobia originating in cone-driven retinal pathways. Brain, 2016. Link
  • Effects of screen color mode and color temperature on visual fatigue under different ambient illuminations. Int J Hum–Comput Interact, 2024. Link
  • Good PA, Taylor RH, Mortimer MJ. The use of tinted glasses in childhood migraine. Headache, 1991. Link

Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.