What is an ocular migraine? Is it a sign of something serious?

Ocular migraines are a type of headache that affects one or both eyes. They’re often mistaken for more serious conditions because they have similar symptoms, such as pain and sensitivity to light.

Ocular migraines typically last for 30 minutes to three hours. They can be triggered by changes in light, stress and certain foods.

You may also experience other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, but these aren’t common.

If you experience an ocular migraine, you don’t need to see your doctor unless it’s severe or unusual for you. If this is the case, they’ll refer you to a specialist who can confirm the diagnosis and provide treatment options if necessary.

An ocular migraine is a type of migraine with visual symptoms. It’s called “ocular” because it involves the eye, but it’s not the same as an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

The symptoms of an ocular migraine can include:

• Blurred vision
• Flashes of light in one or both eyes
• Pain in one or both eyes
• Nausea and vomiting

In some cases, people also experience dizziness, confusion and difficulty speaking. The symptoms of this type of migraine usually last for about an hour and can sometimes be accompanied by a headache.

An ocular migraine is not a sign of anything serious — it’s a common type of migraine that affects up to 25 percent of people who have migraines.

Ocular migraines are a subtype of migraines that affect vision but do not cause headache pain. During an ocular migraine, your vision will become blurry and distorted in one eye — usually the same eye each time — and then return to normal within an hour or two. If you have this type of migraine for the first time, it’s important to get it checked out by a doctor to make sure there isn’t anything else going on that could require treatment (such as high blood pressure).

Migraine aura affecting your vision

Migraine auras can be frightening. They’re often the first sign that a migraine will follow, and they cause many people to worry. If you have migraines, you know that the pain is usually on one side of the head, but it’s not always so straightforward.

Some people experience symptoms that affect their vision during an aura. These symptoms aren’t painful, but they can be scary — especially if you’ve never had them before. Here’s what you need to know about this type of aura:

There are several types of visual aura, including scintillating scotoma (a bright spot) and fortification spectrum (bright lines).

Auras most commonly occur with headache-free migraine attacks, but they can also happen with classic migraines (with or without pain).

Auras don’t mean you’re having a stroke or experiencing another serious medical problem.

A migraine can affect your vision in a number of ways. You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Flashing lights, zigzag lines or spots that appear in the center of your field of vision, usually on only one side
• Blind spots (that may be fuzzy or dark) in one half of your visual field (you may also see blurred vision)
• Loss of color vision (may occur just before the onset of pain)
• Temporary blindness (may last up to an hour)

Retinal migraine

Retinal migraine is a form of migraine with aura. It is a transient disturbance in the visual field that usually occurs after a headache and is associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic features, such as conjunctival injection, tearing and eyelid edema. The headache can be migraine without aura or migraine with typical features.

Retinal migraine may occur alone or in combination with other types of migraine (e.g., migraine without aura or chronic migraine). The exact incidence of retinal migraines is unknown because they are often under-recognized or misdiagnosed as other disorders such as ocular pathology, diabetic retinopathy or retinal vein occlusion.

Retinal migraine typically affects people between the ages of 20 and 40 years old but can affect anyone at any age.

Retinal migraine is a rare form of migraine that causes temporary vision loss in one eye.

The retina is the innermost layer of the eye. It contains millions of light-sensitive cells that convert light into electrical impulses, which are then sent to the brain. These impulses allow you to see and make sense of what you’re seeing.

Retinal migraine symptoms include:

• A sudden loss of vision in one eye only
• Nausea and vomiting before or during an attack
• An aura — a visual disturbance such as flashes, spots or lines before the migraine pain starts

What is migrane?

Migraine is a brain disorder that causes moderate to severe headaches. These headaches can be on one side of the head or both sides, and they can either throb or pulsate. Migraines are not just bad headaches — they are often accompanied by sensitivity to light and sound, nausea and vomiting, and disturbances in vision (called auras).

Migraines may also be preceded by visual disturbances called an aura. Auras can include flashing lights, lines or wavy shapes in your vision. These symptoms typically last less than 15 minutes but can sometimes last as long as an hour.

If you have migraines with an aura, you’re more likely to have them only on one side of your head. Also, people who get migraines with an aura tend to have them more frequently than people who don’t get migraines with an aura.

What are the types of migraine?

There are two main types of migraine:

Common migraine. This is the most common type, and it affects about 1 in every 4 people. It’s often thought of as a headache that’s worse on one side of your head and has nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to light or sound. It lasts from 4 to 72 hours.

Migraine with aura. In this type, you may see flashing lights or spots before your headache starts. You may also feel numbness or tingling in your arms or legs before the headache begins (called an aura). This type accounts for about 2 out of every 3 cases of migraines.

What are the causes of migraine?

Genetics. A family history of migraine headache is the most common risk factor.

Abnormalities in brain structure or function. Migraine is thought to be caused by a problem with a brain pathway that regulates pain. Some investigators believe that this pathway is not working correctly because it has been damaged or inflamed by an infection or other event. Others think that some people may be born with a defect in this pathway and that they are more likely than others to develop migraine headaches as they get older.

Other medical conditions. People who have migraines are more likely than others to have other disorders such as high blood pressure (hypertension), depression and epilepsy (seizures). The link between these disorders and migraines isn’t clear, but it’s important for people who have migraines and other medical conditions to talk with their doctor about how best to manage them together.

How to treat migraine?

Migraines are more common in women than men. They are often hereditary, meaning that if you have them, there’s a good chance your children will too.

Treatment for migraine includes:

Pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). These drugs won’t cure the migraine but can help stop it before it gets worse.

Caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee or tea may help relieve milder headaches but won’t work on severe ones.

Medications called triptans help control some of the symptoms of migraines, including nausea and vomiting. They are available by prescription only.