An ocular migraine is an episode of vision loss in one eye, usually lasting less than one hour and is associated with a headache. An ocular migraine can mimic other serious conditions, so it is very important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible if experiencing these symptoms.
a blind spot in your vision. a headache – you may get this at the same time as the eye symptoms or shortly afterwards. other eye symptoms, such as blurred vision and seeing flashing lights, zigzag patterns or coloured spots or lines. feeling sick or being sick.
Visual migraine aura can be confused for occipital seizures and vice versa, although symptoms are classically distinct. This is further complicated because occipital seizures are often followed by migraine-like headache. Migraine is both a diagnosis of inclusion and exclusion.
Like other types of migraine, harsh lights and electronic screens can be triggers. Straining your eyes by staring at a screen for long periods of time, spending time in fluorescent or other harsh lighting, driving long distances and other taxing visual activities can increase your risk for attacks.
The visual symptoms typically last approximately 20-30 minutes and then completely resolve. The area where vision is disrupted is known as a 'scotoma' and the whole episode is often referred to as an 'aura. ' In a typical migraine, a throbbing headache quickly follows the visual symptoms.
Ocular migraines and stroke are two conditions that share similar symptoms and can often be confused. Although an ocular migraine alone does not indicate a stroke, studies show that those who suffer from ocular migraines may be at a higher risk of experiencing a stroke.
Ocular Migraine Treatment
The visual portion of an ocular migraine usually lasts less than 60 minutes, so most people don't need treatment. It's best to stop what you're doing and rest your eyes until your vision goes back to normal. If you have a headache, take a pain reliever that your doctor recommends.
If you have visual symptoms that have not previously been evaluated by a health care provider, you should see a provider if you have any of the following: Visual changes in only one eye. Visual changes that last less than five minutes and more than 60 minutes. Visual changes without a headache.
Migraines may progress through four stages: prodrome, aura, attack and postdrome.
In another study, Forsyth et al. [5] reported that headaches were similar to ten- sion-type in 77%, migraine-type in 9%, and other types in 14% of 111 patients with a brain tumor. Our cases presented with only migraine-type headache with migraine-like visual aura due to an astrocytoma.
To tell whether you are experiencing an actual or a visual migraine, cover one eye and see if you notice a problem with your vision. Then cover the other eye and check again. If the vision problem is just in one eye, then it is an ocular migraine. If it is in both eyes, then it is a visual migraine.
There is no specific diagnostic test available that can identify ocular migraines; to diagnose your condition, the eye doctor may: Perform a comprehensive eye exam. Review your medical history.
Stress is a common trigger of migraine headaches, including ocular migraine headaches. Since anxiety causes stress, anxiety is a common cause of migraine headaches, including ocular migraine headaches.
Dehydration. Though often overlooked, dehydration is one of the most common causes of migraine headaches—and thus, of visual and ocular migraines. For some especially migraine-sensitive folks, even mild dehydration can trigger a migraine event.
To deal with head pain and other symptoms that follow the visual disturbances of retinal migraine, you can turn to pain relievers, including Tylenol (acetaminophen) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil (ibuprofen).
While caffeine can cause eye migraines in some people, for others sipping a small amount of a caffeinated beverage can stop the symptoms. It is important to stop driving if you experience any visual effects.
Migraine headaches and brain aneurysms can sometimes share some symptoms. It's rare, but an aneurysm that is large or growing can push on nerves or tissue and cause migraine-like symptoms, including: Headaches. Pain above or behind the eyes.
Types of visual migraine, or ocular migraine, include migraine with aura and retinal migraine. Both of these are neurological conditions wherein a person may experience visual disturbances or vision loss alongside a headache.
In rare cases, visual migraine can trigger a seizure. This is called migralepsy and usually causes a person to experience a seizure within 1 hour after noticing migraine symptoms. Read more on visual migraine here.
As with regular migraines, ocular migraines can be triggered by harsh light or, especially, electronic screens. Someone who spends the whole day looking at a computer screen, for instance, is at higher risk for experiencing ocular migraines than someone whose job does not involve much screen time.
Possible triggers for ocular migraines
Low blood sugar levels. High blood pressure (hypertension) Dehydration.
An MRI can't diagnose migraines, cluster, or tension headaches, but it can help doctors rule out other medical conditions that may cause your symptoms, such as: A brain tumor. An infection in your brain, called an abscess. The buildup of fluid in the brain, called hydrocephalus.
Some people get retinal migraine every few months, although the frequency can vary. Retinal migraine is a separate condition. It shouldn't be confused with headache-type migraine or migraine with aura, which usually affects the vision of both eyes.
Common symptoms of brain tumours include headaches, feeling or being sick and seizures (fits). These symptoms and the others listed below are often caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them, it's important to see your doctor.