Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
The diagnosis of retinal migraine is one of exclusion and all other causes of vision loss should initially be considered. All members of the healthcare team should be vigilant and refer the patient for immediate and emergent assessment for stroke or other thromboembolic causes for their symptoms if the patient presents with visual loss or changes.
Retinal Migraine Occurs In One Eye
Retinal migraine usually occurs in one eye, and there may be an abnormal spread of electrical activity in the retina. The migraine may also be caused by the sudden constriction or blockage behind, or in, an eye. It may occur with, or without, a throbbing headache at the side of the head. The patient may also simultaneously experience sensitivity to light or nausea. The temporary loss or distortion of vision in one eye makes it difficult to conduct close visual work and makes it dangerous to drive. This type of migraine is generally of short duration, an hour or less, and then vision returns to normal. However, some researchers have found that irreversible vision loss is also possible.
Retinal migraine, as defined by the International Headache Society, is actually fairly uncommon. Most cases are diagnosed as ophthalmic migraine.
How Do You Treat Ocular Migraines
Treatment isnt always necessary for ocular migraines as symptoms usually go away own their own after about half an hour. Wed recommend resting your eyes until your symptoms pass, and taking painkillers as recommended if you have an accompanying headache. Otherwise, the best thing you can do is to avoid exposure to common triggers.
However, because ocular migraine symptoms are similar to those caused by a stroke-type event in the eye, its important that you seek medical advice from your GP quickly so that further investigations can be considered.
If you have any concerns about the frequency of your ocular migraines, visit your GP who may also be able to recommend further treatment.
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Signs And Causes Of Ocular Migraines
Signs and Causes of Ocular MigrainesMany people experience different kinds of migraines even without knowing. An ocular migraine occurs when you experience a blind spot, floating lines, patterns that look like they are zigzagging and flashes of lights. This flash of light can sometimes be accompanied by feelings of headache behind the eyes.What is an ocular migraine?An ocular migraine is a type of migraine that is caused by a set of visual disturbances which may or may not be accompanied by pain. This type of migraine is sometimes known as ophthalmic migraines. These migraines are characterized by a small blind spot at the center of ones vision. This blind spot starts to enlarge later and is often accompanied by flashing lights as well as other visual manifestations. Ocular migraines are typically nothing to worry about. A small percentage, around fourteen percent of the worlds population usually experience some type of migraine which include, retinal, traditional, ocular and other types of migraines.Types of Migraines
This type of migraine is mainly caused by a traditional migraine, which leads to an intense pain, usually on one side of the head. This type of pain can last for hours, or even days and is usually accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light. When experiencing ocular migraine, it can sometimes be followed by pain, but are usually more concentrates around the affected eye.
What Triggers An Ocular Migraine
Ocular migraines can be triggered by a number of factors. Quite often, people are genetically predisposed to suffering more from migraines, especially women aged under 40. Otherwise, ocular migraines can be brought on by:
- Stress
- Consumption of certain foods, caffeine or alcohol
- Changes in hormone levels e.g. pregnancy or menopause
After your first episode, it is important to visit your doctor to check if there are any underlying conditions that caused your ocular migraine. Ocular migraines sometimes occur as a side effect of a number of health issues including:
- Brain tumours
- Inflammation in the brain
Finding out the cause of your ocular migraine could potentially help you get treatment for a more serious condition that you didnt know you had.
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Is Retinal Migraine Dangerous
Most often, a retinal migraine attacks will subside after a short time with no lasting harm, though it can affect your ability to drive safely.
Still, its worth discussing with your doctor and potentially getting an eye examination to look into potential causes and rule out more serious concerns, such as a stroke in the eye.
Migraine with or without aura is a risk factor for stroke.
If its never happened before, losing vision in both eyes at the same time may also be a sign of a more serious problem.
Your head may start to hurt at the same time a retinal migraine affects your vision or up to 1 hour later, or you may not experience a headache at all.
The same is true for the more common migraine with aura.
Retinal migraine is considered relatively rare. Its more common for a different type of migraine to affect vision in both eyes, not just one.
Older research from 2005 puts the frequency at about
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Ways To Ease Your Stress
Since stress is practically a given in our lives, learning how to reduce its effects on our bodies, minds and our eyes is paramount.
Some of the most basic steps to reduce stress are simple and cost little or nothing.
Exercising, getting a full eight hours of sleep at night, eating a healthy diet, spending more time outdoors and meditation are great ways to relieve stress, Horn advises.
Other approaches like deep breathing exercises, stress management training, talk therapy and meditation are recommended to slow the progression of vision loss.
If these approaches dont work and stress-related vision symptoms persist, see your eye doctor for immediate attention. Detecting and treating problems early can help maintain good vision for the rest of your life, Horn says.
Schedule an exam
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What Are Migraine Triggers
A number of factors can trigger a migraine, whether its ocular, retinal or classic migraine. The reasons can vary from person to person. If you have ocular migraines, pay attention to these possible triggers:
- Stress and anxiety
- Relaxation after a stressful time
- Loud sounds or bright lights
- Strong odors
- Changes in weather
Retinal migraines are more likely to be triggered by other factors: intense exercise, dehydration, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, hot temperatures and tobacco use.
Certain foods can trigger both types of visual migraines:
- Red wine or other alcohol
- Food and drink with caffeine
- Hot dogs, sausage and other processed meats that contain nitrates
- Chips, fast foods, broths and other products with the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate
- Artificial sweeteners
- Food with the naturally occurring compound tyramine, including smoked fish, cured meats and some soy products
Migraines Can Be Managed With Proper Care And Treatment
In the United States alone, strokes account for nearly140,000 deaths every single year. If you or a loved one are experiencing a stroke, seek immediate medical attention to prevent long-term damage and disability. According to the CDC, Patients who arrive at the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms often have less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who received delayed care.
Understanding your migraines and your specific migraine triggers may help you avoid or at least minimize the occurrence of these disorienting episodes. However, even with the most robust prevention, migraines will still occur for many sufferers. With the inherent elevated stroke risk associated with all migraines , its crucial to know how to recognize the symptomatic discrepancies between the two, and act fast if faced with a potential stroke.
If you or a loved one has experienced a stroke, you know that it can have a significant impact on ones life. Here at Saebo, we are committed to stroke support and recovery to improve the overall quality of life for all survivors and their families.Saebo offers a wide range of products that combine cutting-edge technology with evidence-based rehabilitation techniques. Our offerings and network of Saebo-trained therapists can help you or a loved one to obtain all the necessary tools to maximize stroke recovery.
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What Is The Connection Between Ocular Migraines And Stroke
Ischemic strokes, or strokes caused by a blockage to the brain, account for the majority of all stroke cases in the United States todaynearly87 percent, in factand individuals suffering from migraines with aura are 2.4 times more likely to have an ischemic stroke than those who have migraines without aura, according to the American Heart Association. Recent studies have identified a direct correlation between migraines and the eventual development of certain cardiovascular diseases,especially among women. Although the exact underlying cause is not fully understood, one thing remains very clear: individuals experiencing migraines with aura have agreater risk of stroke than individuals who do not.
Souvik Sen, M.D., M.P.H., study author and neurologist at theUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine has said, Since migraines alter the blood vessels in the brain, the greater incidence of strokes caused by blood clots in the heart or the brains blood vessels suggests that migraine also affects blood vessels in the heart and neck. Thats what possibly leads to these specific subtypes of stroke.
Experts are now advising individuals suffering from ocular migraines to be vigilant about their symptoms, as typical migraine symptoms could signify something much more serious.
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Deterrence And Patient Education
It is critical to educate the patients about the red flags of vision loss. A visual loss that patients describe as darkness requires immediate medical attention and an emergency room visit. Patients must understand that this could be a sign of a stroke or an irreversible eye condition. Visual changes that are more consistent with migraine phenomenon are usually positive such as flashing light. Patients must also be taught that those could come without a headache or any pain. Preventive therapy is important to reduce the frequency of attacks and severity and must be taken on a daily basis.
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Can I Have A Visual Migraine Without A Headache
Definitely. It is actually very common to have a visual migraine without any headache. The medical term for this is acephalgic migraine, which literally means migraine symptoms without headache. Except for the absence of a headache, the visual symptoms in acephalgic migraine are identical to the episodes that accompany a classic migraine aura.
Finding Ocular Migraine Relief
rebound headachesdating back to the mid-1980sAxon Optics migraine glassesResources:
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Summary Of Retinal Migraines
Retinal migraines are a subtype of migraine associated with monocular vision symptoms. Patients suspected of having retinal migraine should be carefully assessed by their doctor for an underlying cause. To help distinguish retinal migraine from migraine with typical aura, it is important that people carefully assess whether there vision symptoms are perceived in one or both eyes by alternating looking through either eye. The distinction between retinal migraine and migraine with typical aura has ramifications for treatment choices as well as prognosis counselling.
Can Perimenopause Cause Ocular Migraines
If you experience these symptoms, youre most likely having an ocular migraine. Ocular migraines seem to run in families. They have been linked to estrogen, a female hormone that fluctuates during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, or with use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapies.
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How To Treat An Ocular Migraine
Ocular migraines are treated the same way as other migraines, and both medications and lifestyle changes may help to cut down symptoms and reduce the number of migraines you have.
Migraine medications fall into two categories: drugs that help stop migraines when they happen and drugs that prevent migraines.
Medications you can take when you get a migraine include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- NSAIDS with caffeine like Excedrin
- Prescription triptan drugs like sumatriptan or rizatriptan
Medications you can take daily to prevent migraines include:
- Beta-blocker medications like propranolol
- Certain antidepressants like amitriptyline
- Anti-seizure drugs including topiramate and Valproate
There are also new prescription monoclonal antibody drugs which may be self-injected monthly or every few months which have been effective for many people in preventing migraine.
Lifestyle changes are also a key way to prevent migraines. “I generally recommend that people maintain a routine lifestyle because the brain thrives on a regular routine,” Hindiyeh says.
Hindiyeh recommends several helpful lifestyle changes, including:
- Sleeping and waking up at the same time every day and avoiding naps
- Eating regular meals
- Doing some aerobic exercise every day where you get your heart rate up and sweat, like jogging or biking
It’s also important to avoid ocular migraine triggers like bright digital screens as much as possible.
Causes And Risk Factors
Although the exact physiology of retinal migraine is unknown, one theory is that it may result from vasospasm, a narrowing of vessels that supply blood to the retina or that are part of the ciliary body of the eye.
Whatever the mechanism, like all types of migraine headaches, retinal migraines tend to be brought on by specific triggers such as stress, high blood pressure, smoking, and more.
Retinal migraines, in particular, may be triggered by:
- Staring at a screen for long periods
- Spending time in fluorescent or other harsh lighting
- Driving long distances or participating in other taxing visual activities
People believed to be at increased risk of retinal migraine headaches include those who:
- Are in their 20s or 30sin particular women, due to hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle
- Have a history of other types of migraine
- Have a family history of migraine headache
- Have lupus, atherosclerosis, or sickle cell disease
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What To Do In The Event Of An Ocular Migraine
The American Heart Association publishes that migraine aura and visual disturbances occur about 20 percent of the time in the event of a migraine and can be a possible risk factor for ischemic stroke. Research findings show that if you suffer from migraine with aura, you are more than two times more likely to suffer from a blood clot or mass that clogs the blood vessel and leads to an ischemic stroke.
An ocular migraine can interfere with blood vessels in the brain, which in turn may raise the odds for clots and strokes. For this reason, if you suffer from ocular migraines, you should contact your health care provider to get it checked out and ensure that your risk factors are identified and addressed.
When suffering from an ocular migraine, it is important to take care of yourself. Try to manage the pain and symptoms as best you can. This may include:
- Moving to a quiet and dark room.
- Laying down and resting your eyes.
- Drinking a lot of water.
- Placing a cool compress on your head.
- Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or anti-nausea medications.
Try to stay still in a safe place while the visual headache passes. Dont attempt to read, drive, or do anything else that requires extreme focus, concentration, or visual attention.
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How Do You Treat Ocular Migraines Naturally
Natural remedies for migrainesAcupressure. Acupressure therapy may help relieve some migraine symptoms. Diet changes. Many people who get migraines notice certain foods can trigger them. Essential oils. Ginger. Stress management. Yoga or stretching. Biofeedback therapy. Acupuncture.More itemsAug 20, 2018
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Is Your Headache Caused By Eye Strain
To tell if your headache is caused by eye strain or not, remove the triggers that are straining your eyes. If your headache dissipates once the triggers that cause eye strain are removed, your headache was likely caused by eye strain. If you have systematically removed factors that cause eye strain and you still experience severe headaches, its time to see a doctor.
You should see your doctor about your headaches if they:
- Occur frequently or regularly.
What Medications Can Cause Ocular Migraines
While this article does not include an exhaustive list, common systemic medications that cause ocular side effects include: bisphosphonates cyclosporine and tacrolimus minocycline hydroxychloroquine ethambutol topiramate tamsulosin amiodarone anticholinergics erectile dysfunction drugs blood pressure
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Why Do I Get A Headache With An Ocular Migraine
Ocular migraines dont always have accompanying head pain or headache like a normal migraine. Ocular migraines causes. An ocular migraine happens when the blood flow to the eye becomes restricted due to a sudden narrowing of the blood vessels. Once the vessels relax, normal blood flow returns and symptoms clear.
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So Does Migraine Cause Anxiety Or Does Anxiety Cause Migraine
This is a question that researchers have not been able to answer definitively. Many suggest that the relationship is two-way – migraine can increase the likelihood of anxiety, and anxiety, in turn, can exacerbate migraine.In particular, the prevalence of anxiety increases with the frequency of migraine, suggesting a ‘dose-response’ effect the comorbidity between migraine and anxiety disorders is also enhanced by the presence of drug abuse and concomitant depression, the above researchers wrote in The Journal of Headache and Pain. As scientists attempt to shed light on the complex relationship between migraine and anxiety, people who live with these two conditions are simply trying to manage them. Anxiety isn’t just worry and fear, it’s also avoidance that keeps us from doing the things we need and want to do, migraine headache Jennifer wrote for Migraine Strong. She chains us to our sofas, imploring us to avoid anything that creates these disturbing thoughts. Sometimes even preventing us from doing the things we love.
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