A sufferer of an ocular migraine may be experiencing a migraine aura, a collection of symptoms and sensations that precede or accompany a migraine headache. If it is in fact an ocular migraine, or "eye headache," the visual symptoms are dominant and the headache may not occur at all.
Confusion Surrounds Ocular Migraine
While the headaches themselves are not considered serious, the language surrounding their description and diagnosis can be confusing. Some medical professionals refer to ocular migraine as ophthalmic or acephalgic migraine. Others may refer to them as retinal migraine, which is actually a rare condition involving temporary loss of vision and is most often caused by a more serious illness.
What Are the Symptoms of Ocular Migraine?
The visual symptoms of ocular migraine and common migraine aura are identical:
- neon zigzagging patterns
- bright flashes of light
- shimmering spot or stars
- visual dark spots
Bright light or reflected light on glass, metal or water is a dramatic way to trigger an aura of either type of migraine.
While an ocular migraine may last no longer than five minutes and result in no headache, common migraine aura may last 20 minutes and results in a painful headache, sensitivity to light, vomiting and other infirmities. An ocular migraine's symptoms are often confined to one eye at a time. Images may appear distorted, starting in the center of the image, then traveling to one side.
The image may also become wavy or misty. One way to test for ocular migraine is to cover one eye. If the symptoms continue, cover the other eye. If the symptoms stop, the ocular migraine is the probable cause. If the symptoms continue after both eyes are tested, a traditional migraine aura is probably the culprit.
Treatment for Eye Headaches
Pain is usually not associated with ocular migraine, but if some relief is needed, over-the-counter medications, natural therapies and alternative remedies seem to be effective in treating the mild pain or discomfort that may result from ocular migraine. If more severe headache pain results, a visit to a physician is usually warranted to determine the cause and treatment.
Who Gets Ocular Migraines?
Ocular migraines may be more common in the following:
- women (70% of migraine sufferers are women)
- people under 40
- people who have a personal history of migraines or other headaches
- people who have diseases like lupus, hardening of the arteries, sickle cell disease, epilepsy and depression
When It Isn't an Ocular Migraine
The danger in describing ocular migraine is that a person experiencing similar symptoms, without visiting a doctor, may be relieved to think he has a relatively harmless condition. That person should seek immediate medical attention, however, if he is experiencing the following:
- a noticeable change in the five senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching)
- a sudden change in mental status, such as memory loss
- difficulty walking or standing
- slurred speech
Even without more serious symptoms, the first ocular or ophthalmic migraine attack should cause the sufferer to visit a health care professional to rule out eye disease or a disorder of the blood vessels leading to the eye as possible causes.
The terror of the visual dark spots, the bright zigzag lines and exploding neon colors across the person's visual field has subsided. A diagnosis from a medical professional assures the person that what she's suffering is indeed a somewhat harmless ocular migraine, and not blindness or a stroke. She will now seek assistance from headache resources so she can help minimize the impact of the migraine on her daily life.
References:
WebMD.com, "The Basics About Ocular Migraines" (accessed January 28, 2010)
AllAboutVision.com, "Ocular Migraines: Eye Doctor Q&A (accessed January 28, 2010)
Paula Randolph - Paula has had many years of writing experience since her degree in English. Recent work includes ghost writing a fantasy-adventure ...
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