If you’re driving, park on the side of the road and wait for the visual disturbances to pass completely.If you perform tasks that require clear vision, when an ocular migraine or visual migraine occurs, stop what you are doing and relax until your vision returns to normal.Keep a headache journal including information about what you were doing, eating, or medications are taken before or after a headache occurs.Common triggers include stress, hormonal changes, bright/flashing lights, drinking alcohol (red wine), changes in the weather, skipping meals/not eating enough, or too much or too little sleep.Ocular migraines are believed to have the same causes as migraine headaches.Ocular migraines are typically caused by reduced blood flow or spasms of blood vessels in the retina or behind the eye. A blind spot in the central area of vision can start small and get larger and usually lasts less than 60 minutes. It can occur with or without the pain of a migraine headache. Making it very difficult to read, write or drive. Shimmering or flashing lights, zigzagging lines, stars, black spots are all visual cue symptoms you’re most likely having an ocular migraine. In an ocular migraine, vision in the affected eye generally returns to normal within an hour. Ocular migraines are caused by reduced blood flow or spasms of blood vessels in the retina or behind the eye. Always seek the advice of your physician.An ocular migraine is a rare condition characterized by temporary vision loss or even temporary blindness in one eye. This article is not intended to substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ![]() He has special interests in treatments for dry eyes and glaucoma and has been a principal investigator in numerous clinical research trials for these conditions. McCormack diagnoses and treats all eye diseases, prescribes eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems, and performs a wide range of clinical procedures and more complicated eye surgeries. If these symptoms last more than an hour, this can be a sign of something more serious, and you should seek medical attention immediately.Īs an ophthalmologist, Dr. It is important to stop driving if you experience any visual effects. While caffeine can cause eye migraines in some people, for others sipping a small amount of a caffeinated beverage can stop the symptoms. Some people find that taking an aspirin at the onset of their symptoms can prevent the headache altogether. Treatments are often unnecessary because the visual disturbance only lasts for a short time, and the headaches aren’t severe. Stress or release of tension, bright lights, and exercise can also be triggers. Triggers of ocular migraines can include caffeine, chocolate, red wine, blue cheese, nuts, and processed meats. It’s common for patients to have two or three episodes within a short number of days, then have no symptoms for months. Also, a mild headache that lasts several hours can occur. Anxiety and mild disorientation are also common during the episodes. ![]() Often the visual symptoms last between 5 and 60 minutes and can change during this period. Signs can involve shimmering light, heat-wave effects, jagged black and silver arcs, white-out areas, or blank patches. Symptoms vary from patient to patient or even from one episode to the next. However, it’s still essential to have a complete eye evaluation to rule out more serious causes. This condition can be one cause of visual disturbances that often do not need treatment. If, on the other hand, the spasm of blood vessels occurs in the back of the brain where vision is processed, this could be an Ocular or Eye Migraine. ![]() If this happens in the temple area, the result can be a severe, one-sided headache, sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. “Classic” Migraines are thought to be caused by spasm of blood vessels in the brain. An eye exam can reveal problems with the vitreous fluid, the retina, or even signs of a stroke. It is essential to see an ophthalmologist if you have flashing in your eyes. Also, before I launch into specifics, I would like to start with this:įlashing lights in your eyes can be concerning, as they can be a sign of retinal detachment or other retinal problems. The purpose of this post is to define the difference between “classic” and ocular migraines.
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