Have you ever been through this: you set foot in a store where the light is so white and intense that it feels like an aggression, or even worse you feel the onset of a headache. This effect is very real and has profound consequences on our daily lives.
Why can light cause migraines?
Light intensity
As you probably already know, it is strongly advised not to look at the sun directly. However, some of the lights we encounter in our daily lives emit far too much light intensity.
Often, fixtures like spotlights do not emit a sufficiently diffuse light with far too much brightness for a single location.
This is often the case in public buildings (shops, offices, schools, etc.) that use fixtures that are far too powerful to light up a large area at a lower cost.
And it turns out our retina is very sensitive to light and can quickly become damaged. This can cause increased sensitivity and migraines.
Besides causing migraines, extreme sensitivity to light can also be a symptom of migraine called photophobia, according to the American Migraine Foundation.
We all have some degree of sensitivity to light exposure – but we can all feel the pain ourselves when we suddenly open the shutters after a long night's sleep and we're blinded by the intensity.
The damage of inappropriate light exposure on sleep
Bright light triggers a hormonal mechanism that temporarily suspends the secretion of melatonin into the blood. This hormone, also known as the sleep hormone, is the signal fire that tells our body that it's time to sleep. While it is important to get enough exposure at the beginning and middle of the day, it is imperative to avoid these light sources several hours before bed.
Too frequent exposures to unsuitable light will disrupt the circadian cycle and can trigger many sleep disorders that in turn cause migraines in some people.
Indeed, a study by Beth Israel Deacononess' Comprehensive Headache Center, says that "more than 80 percent of migraine attacks are associated with and exacerbated by sensitivity to light, leading many people suffering from migraines to seek the comfort of darkness and isolate themselves from work, family and daily activities"
Accommodation and light
Our eye is made up of muscles that can relax and contract to allow us to see an object clearly in a dark or well-lit environment, whether it is far away or up close (unless we are nearsighted).
In a poorly lit place, our eye needs to make an extra effort to see properly by contracting the pupil. This repeated muscular exertion can quickly generate painful migraines.
What are the solutions?
Get out in the sun
Our eyes have evolved under specific conditions over tens of thousands of years and have adapted to this environment. Conversely, artificial lighting was invented less than 150 years ago, so it's no surprise that our eyes haven't yet adjusted to this impact.
As you now understand, it is important to be exposed to as much light as possible that reproduces natural conditions.
Blue Light & Positioning
We've been hearing about the impact of blue light on our sleep for several years. Some studies tend to show that white light, which also contains blue light, is just as problematic after a certain time.
To limit the impact on our sleep, it is therefore preferable to choose lighting that is closer in color of light emitted by fire when nightfall comes.
For example, warm lights from 2700 to 3000K are soothing and relaxing, perfect for spaces such as bedrooms.
Circadian Bulb
To address all these issues, we are developing a light bulb that automatically adapts its temperature and intensity according to the time of day, just like the circadian cycle.
Once set up, it doesn't need to be controlled by an app on a daily basis.
Visit our website to find an answer to all your questions.
If you have eye pain or headaches, consider subscribing to the newsletter and participating in Laqi's crowdfunding campaign !
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