Ocular Migraines: Overview

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manhattan, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) January 24, 2012 -- Ocular migraines is a term that can be used to refer to either a classical migraine or migraine with auras, or what is known as a "retinal migraine." This article will primarily consider the latter usage, which is the one most often used by ophthalmologists.

What Is a Retinal Migraine?

A retinal migraine is when a restriction in blood supply to your eye causes visual symptoms. These symptoms may include visual disturbance, such as wavy lines or bright lights in vision, or partial or total vision loss. Typically, the experience is very short and affects only one eye. However, the experience may be recurrent. They occur both in people who experience other migraines and people who do not typically experience migraines.

The symptoms traditionally used to diagnose the condition include:

• Headache lasting up to 72 hours and not less than 4
• Two of the following characteristics:
o Unilateral symptoms
o Pulsing symptoms
o Moderate or severe pain
o Severe enough that you avoid or are unable to perform normal daily motor skills
• Nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity or sound sensitivity


However, there are no good tests to confirm a diagnosis of ocular migraines. It is typically only diagnosed after other possibilities are eliminated.

Risk Factors

Although essentially anyone can experience ocular migraines, people may be more likely to experience ocular migraines if they are:

• Women
• Under 40
• Have a personal or family history of migraines
• Have certain diseases like lupus, arteriosclerosis, sickle cell disease

If you have these risk factors, you should talk to your ophthalmologist about your risk of ocular migraines.

Other Causes

If you experience the symptoms of an ocular migraine, it's important to consider other possible causes. Most of the time, partial or total vision loss in one eye is related to another serious condition, and not an ocular migraine.

Loss of vision in one eye may also be caused by a stroke. Optic neuritis is another possible cause of partial or total vision loss in one eye. Retinal detachment can cause partial or total vision loss in the affected eye as well.

Treating Ocular Migraines

There are currently no good treatments specifically for ocular migraines. In most cases, they seem to respond well to standard migraine treatment.

If you ever experience sudden vision loss, it is crucial that you seek immediate medical attention. Your life and your vision may depend on it.

If you live in the New York area and are looking for quality vision care, please visit the website of the New York ophthalmologists at the Kelly Laser Center.

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