To think of migraine is to imagine a headache. But you can get a migraine that affects your eyes and not necessarily your head, known as ocular or visual migraine. There are two types: migraines with aura and retinal.
With the migraines with aura, you may see spots, circles, zigzags or crescent shapes, or flashes of light that last from about five minutes to an hour. Usually, the spots and shapes are seen in both eyes. These symptoms could be a sign that a migraine headache is on the way or not. Some people never have a headache afterward.
Between 15 and 20 percent of migraine sufferers experience auras. Although these disturbances can be unsettling and interfere with your ability to focus on what you are doing, they are usually not serious.
Una retinal migraine it is rare, but it can be serious. With this type of migraine, the most likely symptom is not being able to see out of one eye, diminishing vision for a short time, followed by a headache. Since vision loss can also be more serious, be sure to seek immediate attention from an ophthalmologist or neurologist to diagnose the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
How to avoid migraine with aura?
Treat ocular migraines similar to how you treat regular migraines. You can take a variety of medications to help eliminate symptoms, including triptans, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen. Triptans, which block pain pathways in the brain, require a prescription.
It is most effective if you take your medicine as soon as you start having visual symptoms. However, there are also self-care steps that can be part of the plan to get rid of an ocular migraine faster.
rest your eyes
Avoid bright light coming in if it's a sunny day outside or stay away from your computer screen. Move to a room where the light is not harsh and close your eyes. A cool cloth on the back of the neck or over the eyes or forehead may also provide some relief.
eat and drink something
Unless it's one of your triggers, a piece of chocolate might help because of its caffeine. Likewise, it is important to stay hydrated, so drink, preferably water.
Relax
Find what relieves your stress and do it. For some people, formal relaxation training, such as biofeedback or cognitive behavioral therapy, is effective.
Ask your doctor about anti-nausea medications
Some people who experience migraine with aura also feel nauseated. If it happens to you, medications like chlorpromazine, metoclopramide, or prochlorperazine might help you feel better faster.
How to prevent them?
You can try to prevent migraine with aura in the same way that you would any migraine.
Discover your triggers
By keeping a journal, you can see what is likely to trigger your migraines. Once you know your triggers, you can work to avoid them as much as possible. Common migraine triggers include alcohol, citrus fruits, and packaged and processed foods with chemicals, such as monosodium glutamate and nitrates in hot dogs and deli meats.
Get quality sleep
Don't sleep too much or too little. Follow the same routine to go to bed and to get up, even on weekends.
Eat according to the clock
Having a regular eating routine will help you avoid missing meals, a trigger for some people.
Take medication to prevent migraine
There are many new and effective medications, as well as medications used for other conditions, that help prevent migraines. These range from biologics and Botox to high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. Talk to your doctor about what is best for you based on the frequency of your visual migraines.