I had a blind spot and sparkling lights for about 20 minutes. It started out as a small blank spot in the front of my vision and then spread out to my peripheral vision. Looking for the most comprehensive eye examination in town? Call The Eye Practice on (02) 9290 1899 or make an appointment online today.About three years ago I had my first ocular migraine. Reduced blood flow to the retina for a sustained period of time could lead to long-term vision impairment in rare cases.įor most people, however, there is nothing sinister about ocular migraine. You may need to have a visual field test, OCT or MRI to rule out something more serious. If you experience an episode lasting more than one hour, you should see your doctor straight away. This is why it is important to report any episode of ocular migraine to your GP or optometrist. Rarely, however, similar symptoms could be associated with a serious medical conditions such as a brain lesion, stroke or giant cell arteritis. Ocular migraine is not usually a sign of a serious eye problem. Most episodes resolve within a few minutes to half an hour, when your vision returns to normal. The images below are graphic impressions of the visual disturbance characteristic of an ocular migraine:
Migraine (with or without aura) can be triggered by certain foods (such as caffeine, red wine, MSG and other additives) as well as intense exercise, smoking, high blood pressure, birth control pills etc. If you have a family history or personal history of migraine headache, you are at greater risk of having ocular migraine.Ĭertain vascular diseases such as giant cell arteritis and arteriosclerosis can also be a cause this eye problem. Some estimates put it at one in five migraine sufferers, but it’s hard to be certain as the effects can be subtle. Not all migraine sufferers will experience the auras or visual disturbances associated with ocular migraine. Women experience all forms of migraine more often than men. Migraine headache (at the same time or recent) may or may not be present.īoth children and adults can experience ocular migraine, but they seem to be more common in people under 40.These visual effects are often described as psychedelic or kaleidoscopic.Parts of your vision may be blurry, dim or missing.‘Shimmering’ is a word commonly used to describe the aura.The visual effects (scintillations) may flash, throb, shimmer, twinkle or vibrate.Visual disturbances – also called auras – are often described as zig-zag lines, chequers, blind spots, colour fringes, rainbows, stars, geometric shapes etc.Symptoms of ocular migraine include a range of visual disturbances, especially in the peripheral vision.After the episode, the blood vessels open up again and the vision is usually returns to normal. This blood flow to one of your eyes is reduced and vision is temporarily affected. Ocular migraine occurs when the blood vessels to the eyes tighten or constrict. If you experience an episode lasting longer than one hour you should see a doctor to rule out other, more sinister causes. Ocular migraine is also sometimes called ophthalmic, retinal, eye, visual, silent or monocular migraine.Īn episode of ocular migraine usually lasts from a couple of minutes to about half an hour. Or, in some cases, may occur without any associated headache or pain. It usually occur in one eye at a time but can also affect both eyes. Ocular Migraine is the visual disturbance or aura that may be associated with a migraine headache. An episode may appear before, during, or following a migraine headache.
0 kommentar(er)
