What Is An Ocular Migraine? Eye Doctor Explains

What are ocular migraines? Worried you might have one? In this video, Dr. Rupa Wong, board-certified ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, explains the 3 types of migraines that many people call ocular migraines and when you should see your eye doctor. 🤕

#migraines #ocularmigraines #aura

00:00 : What is an ocular migraine?

00:23 : Who is Dr. Rupa Wong?

00:59 : Are there different types of migraines?

01:12 : What is a migraine with an aura?

01:25 : How long does a migraine with an aura last?

01:28 : How common is a migraine with an aura?

01:59 : What are the symptoms of a migraine with an aura?

02:12 : Do I need to see a doctor for a migraine with an aura?

02:47 : Is a migraine with an aura dangerous?

03:06 : Can I have an aura migraine without having head pain?

03:26 : What is a retinal migraine?

03:52 : Do I need to see a doctor for a retinal migraine?

04:02 : What are the symptoms of a retinal migraine?

04:11 : What does an aura look like?

04:23 : Are floaters associated with migraines?

05:30 : Is there treatment for floaters?

05:36 : Do blue light glasses help with migraines?

05:51 : Is visual noise dangerous to overall health?

06:10 : Why is eye pain associated with migraines?

07:13 : What are common migraine-inducing triggers?

08:42 : Is there a link between migraines and dry eye syndrome?

09:12 : Are corneal nerves different in people who experience migraines?

09:18 : Can treating dry eye syndrome help treat migraines?

09:54 : When should I see a doctor for my migraines?

10:13 : What treatment methods are available for migraines?

11:33 : Conclusion - What is your experience with ocular migraines?

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[DrRupaWong]

Have you ever had an ocular migraine? What is it like for you? 🤕

[Monica-leoi]

I call these eye migraines “kaleidoscope migraines” because for me it starts with a tiny aura but eventually takes over my vision. Sometimes I get them with or without a headache or migraine.

[JonnyQ]

when I’m stressed out, and have really bad Anxiety and panic attacks i noticed my eye floaters, i also used to get a flash of lights on the corner of my eyes

[sonrog]

I get the streaming zigzag aura. Found it interesting that my ophthalmologist said if you see the aura both when your eyes are open & closed then it’s not an eye issue but a neural & sensory issue. Thank you for a very informative video. It surprised me as to how many people never heard of this. I was having difficulty explaining the experience to others.

[chantelkindblade]

I get ophthalmic migraines once every few months. It’s super annoying but definitely not painful. This is incredibly helpful. Thank you!

[Ratguitar]

Apparently I get the ophthalmic migraine. It’s usually without pain, I can see it with my eyes closed or open. It stays in the same area of sight and it looks like a half moon shaped kaleidoscope of colors.
Thanks for the explanation 👍

[roundaboutwithdan]

I've only had the visual aura, but not the pain. It scared the hell out of me the first time I experienced it. I was relieved to discover that it only lasts for 20 minutes or so and was not permanent. I've had them for the last 30+ years at it has never gotten any worse. It also only happens a few times a year. It starts off where I notice I can't read as well, like some of the letters become invisible, then a little geometric, zig zaggy flashing lines appear, they pulsate and grow larger and then gradually they disappear. If you experience anything like this, I still recommend going to a doctor to make sure it's nothing more serious. But I want people to know that it is not necessarily a permanent thing. I've noticed that things like drinking coffee, getting exposed to excessive glare, or spending too much time looking at my computer, iPhone, TV screen can be an issue. I recommend just relaxing, getting away from any monitors for a bit and letting it pass without freaking out is the best thing to do. I still drink coffee and have not had to change much of my habits as it is not a constant, debilitating thing, just a temporary and infrequent phenomenon. Also, I think it's genetic as my mom and a cousin on that side of the family had the same thing.

[emccormack]

I just wanted to emphasize how important it can be to get new symptoms checked out. I have had chronic migraines for over 30 years. In the fall of 2019, I started noticing a gray curtain type effect in my left eye. That is the same side most of my headaches live on, so I thought it was maybe a new version of migraine aura. I don’t always get aura, but it has become more common as I got older. My neurologist suggested I get an eye exam to be safe. The gray curtain was not migraine related, it was actually a ocular melanoma inside my eye that was detaching my retina. Get your eyes dilated and checked.

[jjmusiclover]

OMGGGG THE AURA that is what it is! I’m always telling people as soon as I see the blurring It’s over for me. Like I’m puking and stuff moments later.

[saskianorvell]

Interesting video. I have been seeing these auras since I was a kid, around 3 years old, I was in kinder. When I told my parents about it, they didn't believe me. No one, not even the doctors believe me. I grew up and stopped mentioning it to anyone. Until about 15 years ago I went to a hospital for my daughter's ophthalmologist, the medical assistant, very nice lady apologized to me, she looked distracted, and she told me she was having an aura migrane (ocular migrane), then I asked what was it, and when she explained to me I told her I see the same thing but people always thought I was crazy (including the doctors). Since that day, I was a bit relieved that I wasn't the only one seeing things. I still haven't mentioned it to my new doctors. I had these episodes all my life. I have no headaches, I've had very few mild headaches in my life. The aura I see becomes so large it's like a portal to another universe, and the zig zag is more defined like an enlarged chase bank symbol in rainbow colors with white flashing lights spectrum all around and in the center I can see the tiny picture of the focal object I'm supposed to be seeing. I'm an older woman and I have had many of these episodes, I lost count. Thank you.

[craigbryant]

I will never forget being convinced that I was either dying or would be permanently blind the first time I had a migraine.
I was at school and started feeling really ill with this new type of pain in my head. My school principal wouldn't let me lay in the sick room, she told me to go home or get back to class.

I had a friend with a SAH mom who lived just up the road so I thought I would walk there and she'll let me recover in one of their rooms. I covered my head to block out the light and sound a bit and started walking. Halfway there I realised I was "going blind" with these dark spots closing in from the edges. It was so bad that I could barely see a few steps ahead of me. I ended up sitting on the side of the road with my jacket over my head crying for an hour or so until I could get up and stumble the rest of the way. I have never been so afraid.

My parents didn't believe me and I only found out years later what a migraine was when I started getting them more and more frequently and now I know that the blind spot forming over my left eye is a warning that the next few days will be hell.

20 years and still don't know causes mine most of the time. Most likely anxiety or sleep disturbance related.

[TheresaK]

I thought I was going blind the first time I had migraine with aura. I was about 15 and it was terrifying. Seeing the aura illustrations in the video actually made me panic and feel sick even though I'm not having a migraine right now, I just hate them so much! Thank you for the informative video.

[sharonbyars]

I was born 1943. My sister and I had similar symptoms when we went through puberty in the mid 50’s. Mom always called them “sick headache “ and sometimes we stayed home from school. My headaches typically don’t have pain but the flashing zigzag aura is common. We sometimes would experience a numbing on one side of the body, arm, leg and face…even that side of my tongue would feel larger.
My menopause began early and the symptoms increased again, so I’ve always thought hormones were the cause.
I’m 80 now and rarely experience any symptoms except the aura which is very short in duration

[Stampcrafter]

I started getting ophthalmic migraines around the time of puberty. I am now 73 and still get them on occasion. They last exactly 20 minutes and I can clock them. There is no associated headache. I worked in ophthalmology for about 30 years. Even my boss got them! I even had an MRI and MRA of the brain and everything was perfectly normal. I’ll get a silvery shimmering ball at first and then it breaks into a half moon shape, gradually getting bigger until it fades away to the side. Sometimes the zigzagging thing is on the right side and sometimes on the left.

[weenedonpetrol]

Thank you for making this excellent video. I have cerebral palsy and ocular migraines. It taught me more about my migraines in 12 minutes than any other doctor has told me in the last 50 years.

[L.i.s.a....]

Dr. Rupa is such an intelligent and caring ophthalmologist. Fortunate are your patients.

[IsaMoralesAl]

So I have sarcoidosis in my eyes and it started when I was 18 yrs old, I started to lose my vision when I had a flare. About a year later I started suffering multiple migraines a week. My first migraine, I thought I was having a iritis flare with a horrible headache. Glad that I got diagnosed and have a stable treatment plan that works for me for my migraines.

[karenphillips]

I've had migraines since I was 14, now coming up to 60 & this is the best explanation I have ever seen. I have gone from head migraines to zig zag/aura, the ice pick in the eye is a brilliant analogy, to retinal migraines. These changes have occurred from teenager period hormones, to having pregnancy hormones to menopausal & all other triggers inbetween. As each stage of my life as affected my ocular migraines I will say that if I notice my sight is 'off' or a blind spot starts if I get those painkillers taken within 5 mins the migraine does not go full blown. Thank you for this vid.

[IceSkater]

Thanks to you, Doctor Wong, I now know why I have zigzag auras occasionally with no headache. Have had them for years and mentioned them to several doctors, including an ophthalmologist, but no one could come up with a reason or explanation. I was so relieved to find your video after all these years! Thank you.

[redfireempress]

I am so glad someone is speaking on this subject! I have retinal migraines and it was so scary when I first got them. They would come on so suddenly and it felt like no one could help me. I went to multiple drs and everyone was treating them as regular migraines. I had extensive tests and nothing. Luckily one day my glasses had broken during one migraine and I had an emergency appointment with the eye doctor. She truly saved my life because she was the only one who figured out how to help me.