Most migraine headaches are characterized by pulsing, throbbing pain usually on one side of the head, sensitivity to light and sounds, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. However, there is another type of migraine, the ocular migraine, which is a painless, temporary visual disturbance that can affect one or both eyes. Though it can be frightening, an ocular migraine typically is harmless and self-resolves without medication within 20 to 30 minutes. Sometimes eye doctors use other terms to describe ocular migraines like ophthalmic migraines, retinal migraines, or eye migraines.
If an ocular migraine-like vision disturbance is followed by a throbbing, one-sided headache, this is called a “migraine with aura” (previously called a classic migraine), and the visual disturbance is referred to as an aura rather than an ocular migraine.
OCULAR MIGRIANE SYMPTOMS
People with ocular migraines can have a variety of visual symptoms. They may see a small, enlarging blind spot (scotoma) in their central vision with bright, flashing or flickering lights (scintillations), or wavy or zigzag lines surrounding the blind spot. The blind spot usually enlarges and may move across their field of vision. This entire migraine phenomenon may end in only a few minutes, but usually lasts up to 30 minutes.
About sixty percent of migraine sufferers also experience a “prodrome” that occurs days or weeks before the migraine attack. Symptoms of a migraine prodrome can be subtle and may include changes in mood, cravings for certain foods, or a general feeling of being tired.
WHAT CAUSES OCULAR MIGRAINES
It appears migraines are triggered by activation of a mechanism deep in the brain, which releases inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head and brain. But why this happens and what brings about the spontaneous resolution of an ocular migraine remains unknown. It is know that ocular migraines, just as regular migraines, have certain things that can trigger them. It could be certain foods, odors, lights, lack of sleep, stress, or other environmental factors that can bring them on.
OCULAR MIGRAINE TREATMENTS AND PREVENTION
Since they generally are harmless and typically resolve on their own within a half hour, ocular migraines usually require no treatment. If you are working on something that requires good eyesight when you have one, stop what you are doing, relax, and rest your eyes until it resolves itself.
Also, you should consider having a comprehensive eye exam with an optometrist or ophthalmologist if you experience unusual vision symptoms to rule out sight-threatening conditions such as a detached retina, which requires immediate attention.
If your ocular migraines appear to be stress-related, you might be able to reduce the frequency of them by simply eating healthful meals on a regular basis, avoiding common migraine triggers, getting plenty of sleep, and trying stress-busters such as yoga and massage.
No migraine headache is pleasant to experience. Ocular migraines seem to present fewer problems than regular migraines but they can be annoying. Watch out for triggers to ocular migraines and keep a journal to find the connection. Once you know what brings them on, you can eliminate it from your diet or lifestyle. Life without migraine is possible with a little effort and preparation on your part.
Tags: headaches, migraine attacks, migraine treatment, Migraines, side effects, symptoms, treating migraines, vascular headachce
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