Ocular Migraine explained

Ocular migraines (retinal migraines) are very common and completely benign. The symptoms of an ocular migraine include JAGGED colored lights that usually appear in the central vision. Sometimes they can be sparkly lights off in the periphery. Ocular migraines usually last from 10-30 minutes and are not followed by a headache. The ocular migraine aura slowly disperses over several minutes.

Causes of ocular migraines include eye irritation, stimulants (such as caffeine), allergies, sinus issues and stress.

Ocular migraines are benign and don't lead to long term problems, they are just annoying. These retinal migraines can cause your vision to go completely blurry while they are happening.

Ocular migraine treatment includes keeping your eyes lubricated, reducing stress, get plenty of sleep and reduce your intake of caffeine and nicotine.

[scottfromoahu]

Thank you. I just had my first one and you helped me not freak out.

[wendyrobertson]

Zebra lights, nothing sparkly but it leads to a puking migraine that lasts for hours up to 14 days. My eye Dr, referred me to an ENT Dr. but after examination and a plethora of questions I was then revered to a neurologist/surgeon. Head CT, x-rays, an over night stay with a hundred lil things stuck to my skull for 12 hours to determine that the migraines were sinus migraines. For 18 years I kept telling my GP that it was a sinus migraine, to which he said there was no such tying, only to find out from a neurosurgeon that yes there is such a thing as a sinus migraine. I was prescribed a sinus medication that completely got rid of those nasty vomit inducing migraines. The neurosurgeon said the reason why I would get the zebra stripe visions was that my sinuses would swell up so fast that my sinuses were swelling at such a rapid rate that I was actually seeing my heart beat in the alternating colors and the vomiting was caused by the rapid onset of swelling within my head creating pressure on my ear drums, sort of like instant sea sickness without the movement associated with motion sickness.

[Luna-whtq]

I have had auras for a few years now with migraines .

Usually when I see auras, blurred vision, and get stabbing pains in my eyes, I know a migraine will hit .

I have had new glasses for about a year now, they have ultra violet lenses, plus use heat and eye drops ( for dryness ) and they have helped a lot .

My advice to anyone who is only just starting to experience this … learn your precursors, reduce your stress / anxieties /, use a eye heating pad, eye drops, reduce screen time, and talk to an optometrist ( don’t be shy or worried about talking to them or explaining the issues )

Thank you for this video . Much appreciated .

[paulnorris]

Thank you. I thought they weren’t anything to worry about. Now I know.

[joanwallace]

I have these, I use to have migraines but now it's the "lights". I'll take the light over migraines.

[luckystars]

I feel out of sorts after ocular migraine, especially if it is an intense & colorful episode. Kind of like is a hangover with a bit of brain fog. Anyone else experience this?

[warrensnow]

I’ve had this happen a few years back. It happened on and off for about 6-8 months.I went to the doctor and he told me that it happens sometimes with people nothing to be alarmed about and to relax and enjoy the show.

[kathyk]

I was scared the first time this happened. I can tell it's starting because I have trouble reading. I told my husband they look like those circular jagged things in the Stephen king movie, The Langoliers!

[sherrysilveira]

I get a similar thing, only I would describe it as a shimmering kaleidoscope of colors. I cannot focus on it because it is constantly moving in part of my vision.

[christineribone]

I was just thinking of this!! After a car accident where the car drove into my face, I began having migraines. That includes ocular migraines with swelling. Mine look like dripping visions, and bright flashes similar to a flash camera.

[grammajo]

I had my first one in the middle of a college exam. I had no clue what was wrong. I left my test and made my way to a bathroom to throw up. I went straight to my doctor. He asked me how long I had been having migraines. He said he could write me a prescription or I could go home drink strong coffee with some aspirin. It worked very well.

[mikelevenson]

The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke. No pain, I could think clearly just a Kaleidescape on the peripheral of my vision..my doc checked me out and a scan turned up normal..I mentioned it to my neurologist cousin and he diagnosed it quickly and accurately as an occular migraine..

[mychiri]

I have been experiencing this phenomenon for the past twenty years. I initially believed that I was the sole individual affected by it, as it only occurred once annually during the same month and lasted approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes.

[ericyork]

I get these every couple of months. Once my vision returns to normal, I will feel extremely sick to my stomach. After a 2 hour nap I am always back to my normal self.

[trudihsu]

A week ago, I saw a beautiful flower of light. It did go away minutes later, to be replaced by darker shade. Over time it got better but a week after, I am still seeing remnants of it and it has affected my eye vision. I heard it last ten minutes to an hour. Mine lasted days.

[nils]

Ocular migraine doesn't come from the brain, but from the retinal blood vessels. Ocular migraine is most of the time only visible in one eye. If it's visual in both eyes, and you still see it when closing the eyes, it is migraine aura coming from the occipital part of the brain.

[davidhanson]

Scintillating scotoma is what I found them to be. With me they last about 20 minutes.

[TheWackler]

I saw the dr yesterday to get an eye exam. I feel like im patially colour blind in my right eye, as well as near sighted equivelent to someone 2x my age and the other is fine. I have focal seizures on occasion or presyncope and i get migraines. He brought up potentially having occular migraines as my sight has always been incredible. He prescribed glasses to help. Wasnt sure if hed refer to neuro ophthalmologist or not

[AmberJayneArt]

Hey, I’ve been getting what I think are ocular migraines, as suggested by my doctor, but I don’t see the aura in colour, or jagged lines. I see a perfect circle, in a translucent grey, with sort of flashing TV snow inside, flickering in my vision. It can last for a few minutes at a time, and keeps coming back throughout the day. Is this still considered an ocular migraine? Thanks!

[jeanne]

Mine is like looking through a waterfall