Those who suffer from migraines probably also experience photophobia - the painful sensitivity to light. The researchers at the Salk institute may have found a potential answer to that. They found a compound that switches off light sensitivity without affecting vision.

The ability to sense light is separate from vision. The mechanism uses melanopsin receptors in the eye which can control how the pupil reacts to different light levels.

Research biologist Dr. Satchin Panda and his team discovered that chemicals called opsinamides capable of knocking out melanopsin's activity, and removing the pupil's reaction to bright light without disturbing vision.

Clinical trials are far away still, but its a step of progress for sure. Next step: get rid of migraines.

[MedicalXpress]