Screen triggers and the evidence: light, flicker, patterns, motion

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerScreens can bother people with migraine through brightness, color, flicker, high-contrast patterns and motion. This section summarizes what peer-reviewed studies found for each one, how strong the evidence is, and what a browser can and cannot change. None of it is medical advice.
Light sensitivity (photophobia)Screen light sensitivity during migraine: what helps, with sourcesGreen light and migraineGreen light and migraine: what the 2016 Harvard study foundBlue and amber lightBlue light, amber light and migraine: what studies showFL-41 rose tintFL-41 tint for migraine: evidence and on-screen alternativesScreen flickerScreen flicker and migraine: why people with migraine notice it morePWM dimmingPWM dimming and migraine: what is known and what isn'tPattern glare and stripesPattern glare: why stripes and dense text bother people with migraineDark modeIs dark mode better for migraine? What studies on visual fatigue showScreen brightness and room lightHow bright should your screen be? Matching brightness to room lightMotion sensitivityMotion sensitivity, vestibular migraine and reduced motion settingsAutoplay videosHow to stop autoplay videos on the sites you use most
Migraine Mode for Chrome – one switch applies a preset based on published studies to every tab (Alt+Shift+M). Try it 1 hour free, then $3/month.

FAQ

Which screen setting has the best evidence for migraine?

No screen setting has strong evidence. Lower light intensity and green-leaning light did best in migraine light studies; rose FL-41 evidence comes from small studies of glasses.

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.