What Is an Ocular Migraine?

There are many different types of migraines, which is something people might not realize right away. An ocular migraine is one particular type, and it’s also called a retinal migraine. An ocular migraine or retinal migraine is actually an eye condition although it causes a headache.

It can be really scary for someone to experience this type of migraine because they cause brief visual problems or even blindness in one eye. A retinal or ocular migraine is not the same as a migraine with aura. The two are often confused because migraine with aura can cause problems with vision and create visual disturbances before the actual headache begins. One difference between a retinal migraine and a migraine with aura is the fact that an aura usually impacts both eyes, and a retinal migraine only affects one eye.

Another difference between migraine with aura and a migraine that’s characterized as ocular is the fact that the ocular type of migraine can indicate a more serious condition, while a migraine with aura typically doesn’t.

Symptoms of An Ocular Migraine

The following are some of the specific symptoms a person may experience with an ocular (retinal) migraine.

• Partial or complete loss of vision in one eye
• The loss of vision usually lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes and then returns
• Headache which can occur before, during or after the visual symptoms

Most of the time this type of migraine won’t last longer than an hour, at least not in terms of vision loss. With repeat attacks, the same eye is usually always affected.

Some people see flashes of light, or their vision starts to feel blurry or dim. Other people may see what is called scotomas. Scotomas are patterns of blank spots that look like a mosaic.

What Causes These Migraines?

Doctors aren’t exactly sure what causes this type of migraine. Some experts theorize that it could be caused by spasms that occur in the retina blood vessels. These migraines could also be the result of changes that move across the retina’s nerve cells.

Although rare, if someone has these types of migraines they’re at a higher risk of losing vision permanently in one eye. That’s one of the reasons it’s important to speak with a doctor if you experience these migraines, even if they go away on their own without treatment.

How Are these Migraines Diagnosed?

If you visit a doctor about a retinal migraine, he or she will likely ask you about your symptoms and perform an examination of your eyes. Some of the conditions that will need to be ruled out that can cause similar symptoms include:

• Amaurosis fugax which is temporary blindness that occurs as the result of a lack of blood flow moving to the eye. This condition can be caused by an artery blockage leading to the eye.
• Another condition causing similar symptoms is experiencing spasms in the artery responsible for delivering blood to the retina.
• Giant cell arteritis is a condition leading to inflammation in blood vessels that can cause problems with vision and blindness
• Sometimes autoimmune diseases can lead to blood vessel problems
• Drug abuse
• Conditions such as sickle cell anemia that prevents blood from clotting as it’s supposed to

What Are the Treatment Options?

For most people, a retinal or ocular migraine will go away on its own within about 30 minutes, and no treatment is usually required. However, as was mentioned, it is important to see a doctor to rule out more serious causes for this type of migraine.

If you experience a migraine like this, you should rest until it passes, and avoid doing anything that requires the use of eyesight. You can also speak with your doctor about the best pain reliever to take.

Some doctors will advise the use of prescription medications such as epilepsy medications, tricyclic antidepressants or blood pressure medicines which are called beta-blockers.

Sources:

NHS. “Retinal Migraine.” Accessed February 7, 2019.

WebMD. “Retinal Migraine.” Accessed February 7, 2019.

Swanson, Jerry W. M.D. “Ocular Migraine: When To Seek Help.” Mayo Clinic. May 17, 2018. Accessed February 8, 2019.