What color light is best for migraine?

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerExperimental work found narrow-band green light relatively gentler in migraine photophobia compared with other colours tested, while some red/amber conditions felt worse. Phone or CSS green tints only approximate that. Colour choice is comfort experimentation, not a cure. Keep expectations modest.
Not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat disease. When to see a doctor.

Key citations

  • Noseda 2016; BIDMC communications on narrow-band green.

Practical

  • Soft green tint optional in Migraine Mode.
  • Still prioritise brightness and session length.

FAQ

Should my whole house be green?

No evidence-based home protocol is claimed here.

Why not default rose FL-41 on screen?

Optical FL-41 ≠ CSS; red-enriched light was not better in cited work.

Sources

  • Noseda R, … Burstein R. Migraine photophobia originating in cone-driven retinal pathways. Brain, 2016. Link
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Exposure to narrow band of green light improves migraine symptoms (press release), 2016. Link
  • Fani M, Sharp N, Schwedt TJ, et al. Reducing light sensitivity during and between migraine attacks: a prospective study investigating spectral tuning of white light. Cephalalgia 2026. Link

Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.