When most people think of a migraine, they imagine throbbing head pain, nausea, or sensitivity to light. However, there’s another type of migraine that doesn’t always cause severe pain but instead affects vision, known as an ophthalmic migraine. If you’ve ever experienced flashes of light, blind spots, or zig-zag patterns in your vision, you might have encountered an ophthalmic migraine. Here, we’ll break down what it is, how it happens, and what you can do if you experience it.
Symptoms of Ophthalmic Migraine
Ophthalmic migraines, sometimes referred to as ocular migraines, are a specific type of migraine that primarily affects vision rather than causing head pain. The main characteristic of an ophthalmic migraine is the visual disturbances that come and go, usually without pain. These symptoms may include:
- Blind Spots (Scotomas): Sudden black or dark spots in your field of vision.
- Flashing Lights or Sparkles: Bright lights or spots that appear out of nowhere.
- Zig-Zag Lines or Patterns: Sometimes in a shimmering or kaleidoscope effect.
These visual symptoms usually appear suddenly and may last anywhere from a few minutes to up to a half hour. However, they can vary from person to person. Although alarming (especially if you’re not familiar with ophthalmic migraines), the visual disturbances are often harmless and resolve on their own without any lasting impact on vision.
Some people may experience a traditional headache following the visual symptoms, while others won’t feel any pain.
What Causes Ophthalmic Migraine?
While the exact cause of ophthalmic migraines remains unclear, experts believe it’s related to changes in blood flow to the visual processing areas of the brain. Migraines, in general, are thought to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors.
A few potential triggers for ophthalmic migraine include:
- Stress and anxiety: High stress levels can often trigger migraines, including ophthalmic migraines.
- Bright or flickering lights: Some people are sensitive to bright lights or sudden flashes, which can provoke symptoms.
- Hormonal changes: Women, especially, may find that hormonal fluctuations during menstruation or pregnancy trigger migraines.
- Certain foods: Foods containing caffeine, alcohol, or additives like MSG can sometimes set off migraines.
- Lack of sleep: Not getting enough rest can put stress on the body, increasing the likelihood of a migraine.
Understanding and avoiding these triggers, when possible, can sometimes help prevent or reduce the frequency of ophthalmic migraines.
Diagnosing Ophthalmic Migraines
If you experience these visual symptoms, it’s essential to see a health care provider to confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes, other serious conditions, such as retinal detachment or stroke, can mimic ophthalmic migraine symptoms. A health care provider can help rule out these conditions through eye exams and possibly an MRI or CT scan.
Your health care provider may also ask about your medical history, other symptoms, and lifestyle factors to help identify any potential triggers. This is where having a migraine diary that tracks your symptoms and triggers can be very useful.
Treatment and Management
Although there is no cure for ophthalmic migraine, there are ways to manage and potentially reduce their frequency.
- Avoid known triggers: If you’ve identified specific triggers, like certain foods or stress, try to limit your exposure to them.
- Manage stress: Relaxation techniques, like deep breathing exercises or yoga, can help lower stress levels and reduce migraines.
- Maintain a regular sleep schedule: Quality sleep can make a significant difference in managing migraines, including ophthalmic types.
For those who experience migraine frequently or find that they interfere with daily life, migraine management devices like gammaCore™ non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator (nVNS), can offer relief. gammaCore nVNS is a portable, handheld device clinically proven to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine. By sending gentle electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, gammaCore works to interrupt the pathways that trigger migraine symptoms. gammaCore can be used to treat migraines when they strike and prevent future attacks when used twice daily, in the morning and at night.
To see if gammaCore is right for you, visit our clinic finder to locate a health care provider near you, or contact our dedicated Customer Experience team at 888-903-2673 or customerservice@electrocore.com.
