Ocular Migraines

An ocular migraine can cause changes to your vision, and when it happens, it can be frightening. Dr. William Lee explains the symptoms.

[Hugh_Hunt]

I don't get any pain or discomfort. But I lose parts of my vision.
It feels or looks like going blind.
There is a minor amount of patterns I can see in the 'blind spots', but it's mainly holes in my vision.

I learned about ocular migraines by talking to my optometrist.

[trinitybell]

I almost go completely blind when I have Ocular Migraines. I started having them in 5th grade. Some times, they will be over within an hour or two, but somedays, like today, I have to sleep for hours, and when I am not sleeping, I am throwing up. This is very exhausting and I'm not sure why I go as far as throwing up for hours before I am finally able to rest. Somedays, these Ocular Migraines carry into the next day.

[lauraduckworth]

I've just had one, lasted around 4 hours this time and makes me physically sick every time. Still don't feel 100% yet

[mr.bluepants]

Man, these things suck. The problem isn't the vision getting blurred. It's how you feel for the rest of the day. It's nauseating honestly

[RangiSawaiki]

I just had an ocular migraine today. My vision begins to blur with visual auras. 20 to 30 minutes later I start to feel a dull ache in my head. 1 to 2 hours later my vision returns, but with a severe headache. 2 hours later my headache is unbearable. In the end, I had to take 2 paracetamol and sleep it off. I still don't feel myself almost 24 hours later.

[TIME-fene]

Dont worry guys this is just a simulation error you start seeing pixels and stuff... I started having these a year ago and I thought it only happened when I was tired, but nope. Going half blind on a daily basis is absolutely fun

[Novao]

The first time I got one I was under extreme stress. Now I get them maybe once a year or every other year when I’m dehydrated.

[queenmab]

Ack I hate them! It feels like someone is squeezing my head, and I see a semi circle of triangular shaped metallic like triangle shapes. You seeit in both eyes. I get them often, several times a month.

[slicedpage]

if this helps anyone - I found that certain processed foods cause a pixelated chevron to slowly move across my vision for about 20 mins. Usually cheese but always factory made food. I have had to adapt what I eat which makes dinners a bit boring but I avoid the migraines....usually:) LLAP peeps

[eagleviewhd]

I used to get an optical migraine every couple of years, but nowI am getting them almost every week. My migraine shows up as a flashing zig-zag of light in an arc. Before, whenI got them, they also affected how I felt, but now they only affect my vision, and they do not last very long .

[RazzDejaStar]

I get them so bad sometimes that almost anything can trigger them once you have them. I’ve noticed that if you’re deficient in certain vitamins like potassium it can trigger them. I went to the ER a couple nights ago because they kept relapsing and it’s scary to have. They said my potassium was almost zero in my blood tests. You should always keep a food journal to see if there’s specific foods that will trigger it. It takes anywhere between 12-24 hours for a full attack to start. Whether it’s sparkles, shooting stars, full body tingles etc. You’ll get warning signs sometimes beforehand. They scare me no matter how many times I’ve had them.

[sf]

I've had these since about 14. I'm 47 now. I compare it to looking through a kaleidoscope. The circle starts small and spreads out. Mine usually show up in high stress times. Maybe once every two or three years. About 1 out of five has a headache that follows. This one is fixing to have the headache.

[jayboek]

These suck. Have had them since i was 15. Dont get.them very often. Usually with fluorescent lights or changing into dark to well light areas.

[fnersch]

I get an expanding crescent of black spicules that flicker against a white background that starts in the center of vision. The spicules get bigger as they approach the periphery of vision (20 min duration). In recent years they are more common (age: 71 years). Something is going on in the occipital region of the brain.

[aloeverawater]

i have this occasionally. always go into a deep sleep when it goes for an hour. then when i wake up, i cannot sleep for about 2-4 hours. i then shiver for a few hours. optomologist says i am fine however. still scary though.

[Pettttter.]

I get ocular migraines at regular intervals and wonder if it could be from vitreous detachment and the so-called floaters that I have too regularly but become more noticeable during the attacks ;/

[elizabethw.]

I had one and it was really scary because I didn't know what it was. Havent had one again thankfully. I supplement magnesium bicarbonate or glycinate now and never get headaches anymore.

[jizzadimayuga]

It happened to me every other day. My 3rd time now and after that my head really hurts and i always wanted to vomit after

[TheJamaa]

I usually get them when am hungry or when I take bottled factory grade juice, especially orange juice, there are some artificial ingredients in those juices that trigger this reaction, sometimes I tend to think its connected to my ulcers because the foods that trigger it are mostly acidic drinks

[Jahwayne]

I had this for 3 days because it was weekend and my parent said there carrying me to the doctor on monday