How do you test for ocular migraines?

There isn't a test that can diagnose retinal migraine. Your doctor will look at your medical history and also your family medical history, as half of those with this condition have a family history of migraines.

How are ocular migraines diagnosed?

Diagnosis. A comprehensive eye exam with dilation. Thorough case history, including details about prior headaches. Neurologic testing and/or additional blood work or imaging may be necessary to rule out other, more serious, causes.

Can an optometrist diagnose ocular migraine?

As optometrists, we do not diagnose or medically treat migraines. However, many patients will walk into our office with visual or ocular symptoms associated with migraines or one of their differentials.

When should I see a doctor for ocular migraine?

It is important to talk with a doctor about severe, frequent, or disabling headaches, as well as those that cause other symptoms, such as sensory problems or nausea. A person should seek emergency care for visual symptoms that affect only one eye.

What triggers an ocular migraine?

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.

Ocular Migraines

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.

How do you stop an ocular migraine?

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.

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.

Do ocular migraines lead to stroke?

The bottom line. Ocular migraine, or migraine with aura, and stroke are two different conditions. Having an attack doesn't mean you're having a stroke or are about to have one. However, research has shown that people with migraine with aura are at an increased risk of stroke.

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.

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.

What is the best medication for ocular migraines?

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.

Is there medication for ocular migraines?

Triptans. Prescription drugs such as sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra) and rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT) are used to treat migraine because they block pain pathways in the brain. Taken as pills, shots or nasal sprays, they can relieve many symptoms of migraine.

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.

What causes flashing zigzag lights in vision?

People with ocular migraines can have a variety of visual symptoms. Typically you will see a small, enlarging blind spot (scotoma) in your central vision with bright, flickering lights (scintillations) or a shimmering zig-zag line (metamorphopsia) inside the blind spot.

Can low thyroid cause ocular migraines?

The study researchers conclude that “patients with subclinical hypothyroidism have an increased risk of developing both migraine with aura and migraine without aura in respect to controls.

Can neck problems cause ocular migraine?

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.

Is an ocular migraine serious?

It generally means a headache that's accompanied by changes in vision. But the term is often used interchangeably to refer to two different conditions: migraine aura, which usually isn't serious, and retinal migraine, which could signal something serious.

Do ocular migraines affect one or both eyes?

The symptoms of the two conditions are almost the same except for a few telltale signs. The main difference is a migraine with aura will affect both eyes while an ocular migraine affects only one. Both have visual disturbances such as: Flashes of light.

Can sugar cause ocular migraines?

Low blood sugar is more likely to trigger a retinal migraine than other types of migraines. High blood pressure and dehydration may also act as triggers. Certain types of food. Like caffeine, some foods may trigger ocular or retinal migraines.

Can you have an ocular migraine without a headache?

Yes, It Can Happen, and It's Called an Ocular Migraine. 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.

Does ibuprofen help with ocular migraine?

Some medicine to treat ocular migraine are the same as those for migraine with aura, including over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, or anti-nausea medications. Unlike migraine with aura, your doctor won't prescribe triptans or ergotamine medications.

Can caffeine trigger ocular migraines?

Triggers of ocular migraines can include caffeine, chocolate, red wine, blue cheese, nuts, and processed meats. Stress or release of tension, bright lights, and exercise can also be triggers. Treatments are often unnecessary because the visual disturbance only lasts for a short time, and the headaches aren't severe.

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.