Health Leader, Seeing is Believing

STORY BY

Jacqueline Preston

Specially formulated contact lenses may be just what the doctor ordered to treat migraine headaches, if a recent study bears out.

Researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston discovered that colored lenses versus control lenses may actually rid migraine suffers of their crippling pain.

"These contact lenses provide fast relief, but it doesn't work for everybody," says Dr. Thomas Prager, clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UT Medical School.

The discovery was made by one of Prager's colleagues, Kathleen Faathoff, a low-vision specialist at the medical school.

In the study designed by Prager, 40 study participants received control lenses and treatment lenses to demonstrate the effectiveness of the colored, soft contact lenses. Both sets of lenses were of similar density.

After receiving the control lenses, the study participants were given the treatment lenses. Many of the participants who received the treatment lenses said their migraine symptoms disappeared within 45 minutes.

Since Prager's team is still accepting volunteers into the clinical trial, exact description of the lens is not divulged.

America's Malady

Migraine headaches cause intense, pulsating pain usually in a localized area of the head. Side effects can include extreme sensitivity to sound and light, and nausea and vomiting. Some sufferers can predict a migraine attack when an aura - visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights or wavy lines - appears preceding the actual headache. Others have olfactory changes, such as smelling the scent of oranges.

Migraines are more common than you might think. According to the National Headache Foundation, 28 million Americans suffer from migraines. Migraines are three times more common in women than in men. One in four individuals in American households has migraines and sufferers lose more than 157 workdays a year.

For years, previous research has shown that migraines were caused by dilation of blood vessels in the head. Now, scientists believe that genetic defects in certain brain cells may be one of the culprits.

Are contact lenses the magic bullet in treating or even preventing migraines? Prager says a long-term study is needed to substantiate his team's early findings about contact lens therapy.

Temporary but Effective

"These contact lenses are not a permanent fix," Prager says. "It appears that the visual cortex is involved in migraines, but we need to understand the mechanism and complete the study before we decide how to use this treatment."

If the study results are positive and the experimental contact lenses are approved and put on the market, Prager says the lenses could become an alternative form of treatment that doesn't involve medication for migraine sufferers.

"The treatment contact lenses may provide a safe and inexpensive option," Prager says. "It could empower patients to take control of their condition by interrupting or even preventing a migraine attack."

Last Updated: 7-06-2004

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About Dr. Prager:

Dr. Thomas Prager is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at the UT Medical School.

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Seeing is Believing

Health Tip:

Packing Bag Lunches Safely

If you pack lunches for your child to take to school, be careful that you do not accidentally expose them to foodborne illness.

Bagged lunches, especially those containing perishable foods, need to be packed and handled properly in order to keep the food safe. In general, perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. If left out too long, the temperature of the food can enter the danger zone where bacteria grow most rapidly, which is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Below are some tips to help families pack bagged lunches safely:

Pack foods that are nonperishable and won't require refrigeration.
If you do pack perishable foods such as luncheon meats or prepackaged cheese and crackers, include a frozen gel pack or a frozen juice carton with the food in an insulated lunch bag or box.
Pack only the amount of perishable food that your child can eat at lunch.
Preparing lunches the night before and storing them in the refrigerator until you pack your child's lunchbox in the morning can help keep food cold longer the next day.
Don't reuse packaging materials such as paper or plastic bags, aluminum foil, etc. as they can contaminate other foods and cause foodborne illness. Have your child discard all used food packaging and paper bags after lunch.

Before eating lunch or snacks at school, make sure your child washes his or her hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If your child's school does not have a handwashing program in place, encourage them to adopt a such a program, as handwashing is one of the best ways kids and parents can protect health and stop the spread of germs.