Behind the Lens features TheraSpecs’ customers and their journey – what brought them to TheraSpecs and how they find relief from eyestrain, headache, migraine, and overall light sensitivities.

How do you spend your days?

Good question! I'm on medication now that is working far better than anything I've had so far, so I'm in an in between stage at the moment. I'm usually awake and up by 7 or 8AM, and I watch morning news programs. Throughout the day I will work on art projects or read. My migraine specialist has me under orders to rest and do what I need to in order to get better. I am a quiet person in my home so I tend to stick to quiet endeavors. On my better days you can find me at a bookstore I volunteer time or with my mother.

What prompted you to search for a solution?
Light is one of my biggest problems, in or out of an attack. I knew that by nature, photosensitivity was just another technical facet of migraine - played with by the optic nerves, and the blocking of certain blue light waves by using a red tint was considered helpful. I just didn't know how helpful until I connected with TheraSpecs.

How does light affect your everyday life?
It's a nightmare. I am triggered by many types of light sources. The biggest trigger is the sun. I tend to avoid the outdoors unless I have maximum protection going, or I'm only going to be out a short while. Light limits my ability to feel good while outside because I know it's only a matter of time. Fluorescents are terrible; flickering from a film projector will also have me in tears by the end of a movie, so I don't go often. Since I work on art a lot to distract me, I need natural light coming into the house, I leave all lights off during the day. I make sure my cats get open windows, though. It's a very panicky moment when I leave on a trip and I don't have a face mask. Even the light coming from other tiny sources at night - like a phone - are highly distracting to me.

Which style of TheraSpecs do you own, and why?
I have my own prescription lenses in my own frames. Shortly I will be ordering a new pair directly from the site instead, however. I was very thrilled to find out some prescriptions could be accommodated with the owner's extra frames.

How do TheraSpecs help you?
The first time I put them on, my eyes felt immediate relief. They truly made the migraine I had better by - if I said a pain scale from 1-10, and as I recall I was at a 7 that day - I dropped down to a 4. The pain eased around my eyes and I felt those nerves relax. In public I never know when the sunlight is going to hit me hard, and I use them even when it's overcast because I know the blue light spectrum is still working into my eyes and agitating the migraine process further

How would you describe TheraSpecs to a friend?
Well, basically I tell them they stop certain blue waves from entering the optic nerve and causing more pain, because the red tint is intended to have a calming effect while blocking those waves. There have been lot of people in public who liked them, but I always let them know they are therapeutic for migraines. Usually people are very surprised.

Would you like to share any other tips for finding relief?
My biggest tip is take care of yourself first. If you need to rest, do it. If you need to eat, do it. Don't ignore the signals your body is giving you. Stay hydrated and eat well. If you are unsure about anything, read read read on migraine! Talk to your doctors and make them your healthcare partner, don't be shy about asking questions. I also find that having my cats with me during the day is very helpful—they really are therapy animals for me. So if you can, find a pet you can share time with and love. Science knows how important our furry friends are to individuals with any number of conditions.