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Scientists crack migraine mystery
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Buzz Up! Print StoryScientists have solved the mystery of why migraine sufferers shun the light. Skip related content
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Enlarge photo .Light intensifies migraine headaches because of a particular group of retina cells at the back of the eye, research has shown.

The photoreceptors send signals to the brain via the optic nerve which stimulate migraine pain neurons.

Even small amounts of light are enough to affect the nerve pathway, sending victims running for the shadows.

People who are totally blind due to eye diseases such as retinal cancer and glaucoma are not affected by light during migraine attacks, the study found.

But this was not true of "legally blind" individuals with severely impaired eyesight, who cannot make out images but detect the presence of light.

Migraine is a one-sided, throbbing headache associated with symptoms that can include nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

The pain is believed to develop when the meninges - the system of membranes that surround the brain - becomes irritated.

Nearly 85% of migraine sufferers are highly sensitive to light, a condition known as photophobia, but until now no-one understood why.

Professor Rami Burstein, from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston, US, who conducted tests on totally and "legally" blind migraine sufferers, said: "While the patients in the first group did not experience any worsening of their headaches from light exposure, the patients in the second group clearly described intensified pain when they were exposed to light, in particular blue or grey wavelengths."


hi found this on the BBC news website, we all know of course that light doesnt go well with a migraine, nice to know someone out there is still trying to find out why. hope everyone is well today x

It's nice to have researchers finally confirm this. Now maybe they can work on something to relieve chronically sensitive optic nerves.

Thanks for sharing this information, theresae!

Becky

This is covered in our Daily Mail her in UK. Not totally sure if it is the big breakthrough they make it out to be, sure hope so.

Thanks for posting! It is nice to feel validated by science. Usually I just get weird looks as I cringe away from lights and flashing cameras and wear my sunglasses everywhere all the time.

How very interesting. now I wonder if also nerves are responsible for extra sensitive smell, hearing etc. probably, yes...

Risa