Can you have an ocular migraine without a headache?

A Migraine Without Pain? Yes, It Can Happen, and It's Called an Ocular Migraine. Seeing spots, zig-zags, flashes of light

flashes of light

Photopsia is the presence of perceived flashes of light in the field of vision.

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Photopsia - Wikipedia

or double vision can be a sign of an ocular migraine, a kind of migraine without a headache.

What causes visual migraines without headache?

These triggers include fatigue, skipping a meal, caffeine withdrawal, stress, and certain foods (including red wine, chocolate, or aged cheese). For many patients with isolated visual migraines, however, the events can be very infrequent and no definite trigger can be determined.

Why am I suddenly getting ocular migraines?

Harsh lighting, long screen time, other visual strain, stress, dehydration, food additives, and other causes all may trigger an ocular migraine, a subtype that focuses in the eye and causes vision changes.

What mimics an ocular migraine?

Focal seizures and seizure aura can mimic migraine aura. 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.

Should I worry about ocular migraines?

Retinal migraine (ocular migraine) is an eye condition that causes brief attacks of blindness or visual problems like flashing lights in 1 eye. These episodes can be frightening, but in most cases they're harmless and shortlived, and eyesight goes back to normal afterwards.

Visual migraine aura with or without headache - Video abstract: 30999

Can ocular migraines be in one eye?

A retinal migraine — unlike a migraine aura — will affect only one eye, not both. But usually, loss of vision in one eye isn't related to migraine. It's generally caused by some other more serious condition.

What does an ocular migraine feel like?

Ocular migraines are a rare condition that can be defined as a headache followed by vision changes. You may see lines, shimmering lights, stars, or at times blind spots. Some people will experience temporary blindness in one eye.

How can you tell the difference between an ocular migraine and a TIA?

For instance, a migraine with only a visual aura but no headache may be mistaken for TIA. Like a stroke, a migraine can be sudden and can lead to mild confusion. However, migraine aura symptoms tend to develop relatively slowly and then spread and intensify, while the symptoms of a TIA or stroke are sudden.

What is the difference between an ocular migraine and a retinal migraine?

Retinal Migraine. People may use the terms ocular migraine and retinal migraine to mean the same thing, but there are some important differences. An ocular migraine generally occurs in both eyes. A retinal migraine is rare and tends to occur in just one eye, when vessels that supply the eye with blood narrow.

Does anxiety cause ocular migraines?

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.

What is the fastest way to cure an ocular migraine?

Ocular migraine will typically go away with time. You should rest and avoid triggers such as bright lights until the vision disturbances are gone. There are both over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications that you can use to treat recurring migraine flares.

Can a brain tumor cause ocular migraine?

This case illustrates that headache fulfilling the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for migraine with typical aura can occur in association with an occipital lobe tumor. Although it seldom remains a sole manifestation, headache is a common symptom in patients with brain tumor.

Why can I see zig zags in my eyes?

Seeing spots, zig-zags, flashes of light or double vision can be a sign of an ocular migraine, a kind of migraine without a headache.

Can ocular migraines be a symptom of something else?

The causes of ocular migraines differ from person to person, and sometimes they are just unexplainable. Some say chocolate or caffeine triggers them, while others believe stress and certain medications are a factor. Still, other sufferers say they experience ocular migraines randomly.

How common is aura without headache?

A person may see flashing lights, zigzag lines, or colored spots. In some cases, people experience aura without a headache. This is known as “silent migraine.” According to the American Migraine Foundation, around 25–30% of people with migraine experience aura.

What does kaleidoscope vision look like?

In kaleidoscopic vision, the images you see may appear to be broken up and brightly colored, like the image in a kaleidoscope. They may move around. You may also have a headache at the same time, although not everyone does. It can take one hour after the end of the migraine aura before you experience a headache.

What does a visual migraine aura look like?

It may start as a small hole of light, sometimes bright geometrical lines and shapes in your visual field. This visual aura may expand into a sickle- or C-shaped object, with zigzag lines on the leading edge. As it moves, it may appear to grow.

Can a pinched nerve cause ocular migraines?

These tense muscles press on the eye nerves located on the back of your neck, and the flow of blood to your eyes becomes restricted. This results in frequent headaches or migraines, as well as throbbing around your temples, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision.

How is ocular migraine diagnosed?

During the consultation, a doctor may make use of an ophthalmoscope (also known as fundoscopy), which is a screening tool that has a light attachment and numerous small lenses to check for abnormalities or damage at the back of the eye (the fundus – retina, optic disc and blood vessels).

Can dehydration cause ocular migraines?

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.

How rare are ocular migraines?

It is estimated that visual aura occurs in 20 to 25 percent of people with migraine headaches.

How long can an ocular migraine last?

The visual portion of an ocular migraine typically 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.

How do I get rid of zigzag vision?

Can I get rid of kaleidoscope vision? Currently, no cure exists for migraine. Kaleidoscope vision, along with any other migraine symptoms, will typically go away on their own within an hour. People can take medications that relieve painful symptoms and prevent migraine episodes from developing in the first place.

Do ocular migraines come in clusters?

While classic migraine generally occurs on somewhat of a regular schedule — several times a month, for example, or before a menstrual period — ocular migraines tend to happen in discrete clusters. In one two-week period, for example, you may have several ocular migraines, and then not another one for months or years.

What do wavy lines in your vision mean?

Floaters are small dark shapes that float across your vision. They can look like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or even little cobwebs. Most people have floaters that come and go, and they often don't need treatment. But sometimes floaters can be a sign of a more serious eye condition.