Ocular migraines, also called ophthalmic migraines, are a common condition that usually do not cause any pain, but can cause changes in a person's vision, according to the allaboutvision.com website. Doctors believe that ocular migraines stem from changes in the blood flow to areas of the brain that control vision. In most cases, the condition causes no damage to the eye and goes away without treatment.
Features
Ocular migraines can start without warning and result in visual symptoms akin to looking through a cracked window. Patients see a blind spot located in their central field of vision and bright lights or a shimmering zigzag line in the interior of the blind spot. The blind spot increases in size and migrates across the field of vision. This visual episode persists for about 20 to 30 minutes, explains the allaboutvision.com website.
Types
The Mayo Clinic distinguishes between two types of ocular migraine. One is the migraine aura, which is characterized by the short-lived blind spot with bright lights and zigzag lines. This may be accompanied by numbness, and always affects both eyes. Another more serious type of an ocular migraine is called retinal migraine. This condition occurs in only one eye and is characterized by recurring short-lived decreases in vision or even blindness. Headache may accompany these vision problems.
Warning
Patients who experience an ocular migraine while driving should pull over and wait for the episode to stop, notes the allaboutvision.com website. They should also avoid any other activity that requires clear vision for safety. The Mayo Clinic advises anyone who loses vision in one eye to seek the advice of an ophthalmologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the eye.
Prevention/Solution
According to the Healthcare-Advice.com website, ocular migraines do not occur in any kind of a regular fashion, but some patients have found that there are certain signs that they can use to predict their onset. These signs include exaggerated sensitivity to light, food cravings and fatigue. For some patients, simply moving to a dark room when they notice these symptoms can stop the ocular migraine from moving forward.
Considerations
An important caveat for ocular migraine patients to keep in mind is that prescription migraine medications called triptans should not be used to treat an ocular migraine because this can lead to damage to the retina and even blindness.
