Color vision of people with headaches

The aim of the study is to obtain new data on possible changes in color vision of people with headaches. The object of the study is people who periodically experience primary headaches of different nature. The subject of the study is the specificity of perception of chromatic parameters of the environment and color sensitivity of people with headaches of different nature, quality, intensity and frequency. The data were collected using the Farnsworth-Munsell standard clinical color vision test (FM-100). The study involved 65 people aged 17 to 66 years. The results of the assessment of color vision in the experimental group were compared with the normative indicators and data obtained in the age-matched control group (N=40). Special attention was paid to discussing the possible causes of the identified disorders and analyzing the correlation between various aspects of headache with individual indicators of color sensitivity. The data analysis included calculating the total error (TES), as well as partial errors (PES) along the blue-yellow (B-Y) and red-green (R-G) axes. We also identified partial errors for individual tones. The study revealed a noticeable specificity in the perception of blue-green and blue shades of patients with severe, chronic and non-localized headaches. Since the detected color vision disorders appear to be temporary and are most likely typical of the premonitory phase of headaches, the results of this study may contribute to understanding of headache predictors. Since the identified changes relate to only one group of (blue) shades, the findings of the study can be used in the development of alternative treatment methods. In particular, in choosing the optimal color of tinted lenses, which are offered to patients to relieve headaches and reduce their frequency.

color vision, headaches, FM-100 test, color sensitivity, color discrimination, color, color cognition, color perception, visual trigger, visual perception