When viewers of Britain’s Got Talent first saw Simon Cowell in red-tinted glasses, they thought they were just a fashion statement! But it turns out these glasses are much more than that.
Cowell’s glasses are actually migraine glasses. They’re designed to help people who get migraines from oversensitivity to light. And, like more than 37 million Americans, Cowell suffers from debilitating migraine attacks.
Cowell announced that he will launch his own line of migraine glasses, called Soothe Eyewear, in 2026. Before Soothe hits the market, let’s learn more about migraine glasses. If you have a migraine, will they really help you get some soothing relief?
Cowell’s Eyewear Choice
Cowell has spoken about his migraine attacks several times. He said that the set lights on Britain’s Got Talent bothered him and would trigger attacks. Mind you, these aren’t minor headaches. Cowell has missed filming for two auditions because of it.
So, he decided to do something about it. He bought cheap migraine glasses on Amazon to try out the technology. His £20 pair changed his life, and it planted the seed for Soothe Eyewear!
Cowell is not alone; other well-known personalities get migraines and are occasionally seen wearing migraine glasses. This includes U.S. Ambassador and humanitarian Cindy McCain, Lady Gaga, and Serena Williams.
Light Sensitivity and Migraines
Light sensitivity, or photophobia, is experienced by up to 80% of people with migraines. It can happen during and between attacks. If you have photophobia, you might be extra sensitive to bright light, changes in light, glare, and flickering light. Even certain patterns or colors of light may trigger discomfort.
Why are people with migraines more prone to light sensitivity? Neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Rani Banik explained in a Spotlight on Migraine podcast interview. He said that:
“The cornea, which is on the very surface of the eye, is very rich in nerve endings, and these nerves are basically branches of the trigeminal nerve… So when light hits the cornea, it can activate those trigeminal nerve endings. And if that trigeminal pathway is primed for migraine, it’s almost like your nerve endings tend to be hyperexcitable. Different wavelengths of light can trigger a migraine attack.”
Light Sources That Can Potentially Trigger Migraines
The range of light sources that can trigger migraine attacks has expanded significantly as the world has become more digital. Some common triggers include:
- Fluorescent lights, which flicker at frequencies that can trigger migraines even when you don’t consciously see the flickering.
- LED lights emit high levels of blue light, which is a huge problem for light-sensitive individuals.
- Computer screens, smartphones, and tablets emit concentrated blue light, which can also trigger migraines.
- The filming lights in studios can be as intense as 10,000 lux. Normal indoor light is typically only 200 to 500 lux.
- Natural light can also trigger migraines. Some people find that bright sunlight, when reflected off snow or water, can act as a migraine trigger. Others experience problems with sudden changes in light levels.
How Migraine Glasses Work
Migraine glasses operate on lens technology that filters specific wavelengths of light. The most established technology here is the FL-41 (or “fluorescent-41”) lens, which features a distinctive pink-tinted coating that blocks approximately 80% of blue light and 50% of green light.
A study called Blue Light Exposure: Ocular Hazards and Prevention—A Narrative Review by Cougnard-Gregoire, A., Merle, B.M.J., Aslam, T. et al., as published at Ophthalmol Ther, offers more information on this. The study points to blue light in the 480-nanometer range as an overstimulator for retinal pathways in people prone to migraines. Likewise, certain green wavelengths around 530 nanometers have been identified as triggering discomfort in those with photophobia. FL-41 lenses filter out these wavelengths while allowing other beneficial light to pass through.
Other than FL-41 technology, you’ll find migraine glasses in different tints. These tints are designed to filter out specific light sensitivity patterns. Pink ones are the most popular. They are useful across all indoor and outdoor migraine-triggering activities. If you are particularly sensitive to fluorescent light, amber-colored lenses might be your best bet. Red-tinted lenses, like Cowell’s, may offer the best protection against blue light.
Why Not Just Use Regular Sunglasses?
Regular sunglasses work by dimming ambient light. They then cause the pupils to dilate in response to reduced light input.
When dilated pupils are suddenly exposed to regular indoor lighting, the increased light intake can trigger an immediate migraine attack. This rebound effect makes traditional sunglasses counterproductive for ongoing light sensitivity management.
Also, consider that there may be social and practical limitations in wearing dark glasses indoors. They hide your eyes, which gets in the way of social interactions and professional work performance.
With migraine glasses, you get the ideal brightness levels for your pupils. You can switch between outdoor to indoor environments without experiencing the “shock” of changing light intensity.
Some Limitations of Migraine Glasses
Keep in mind that migraine glasses may work only for some people. Others might get little help from these glasses. So, it might be a good idea to try what Cowell did: Buy a cheap pair to see if the technology works for you.
Migraines are a complex condition, and how they manifest differs in each person. Migraine glasses are just one of the tools used to manage the condition.
Everyone’s migraine glasses needs will be different. So, it’s best to get advice from your doctor first to help find the pair that’s right for you.
Cowell’s Soothe Eyewear Brand and Other Market Options
Through some online sleuthing, I found another Soothe eyewear brand offering migraine glasses. Soothe Optics is a family-owned company in New Jersey. I reached out to them, and they said they have no connection to Cowell’s eyewear venture.
So, if you can’t wait until next year for Cowell’s Soothe, know that you have other options.
Apart from Soothe Optics, you have companies like TheraSpecs and Axon Optics offering you a good range of migraine glasses. You’ll find an impressive range of medical-grade precision light filtering in various frame designs.
Migraine glasses are available at a wide variety of prices. Here’s what you can generally expect from glasses in each price range:
Simon Cowell’s upcoming Soothe Eyewear brand is, of course, a significant entry into the specialized migraine glasses market. The brand is expected to launch within the next year, so watch out for it!
TL;DR
- Simon Cowell recently mentioned launching his Soothe Eyewear brand, specifically focused on migraine glasses. Cowell has famously worn tinted glasses on TV to combat light sensitivity and migraine attacks. Other celebrities, such as Cindy McCain, Lada Gaga, and Serena Williams, also suffer from migraines.
- More than 37 million Americans suffer from migraines, 80% of whom are also extra sensitive to light.
- Migraine attacks can be triggered by changing light intensity, glare, flickering light, and other light conditions.
- Migraine glasses work by filtering out specific light wavelengths. The FL-41 lens, for example, is rose-tinted and filters 80% of blue light and 50% of green light.
- Traditional sunglasses don’t work because they just dim light, and they may not be socially acceptable when worn indoors.
- Migraines are complex conditions, and not everyone may experience the same benefits from migraine glasses.
- Cowell’s Soothe Eyewear brand is an upcoming entry into the migraine glasses market. Some other light filtering glasses options include glasses from Soothe Optics, TheraSpecs, and Axon Optics.
