What does Ocular Migraine Actually Mean?

Although the term “ocular migraine” is frequently used by both medical professionals and laypeople, it can actually refer to more than one type of disorder. “Ocular Migraine” is not itself a recognized term by the International Headache Society or other medical organizations; rather, it is primarily used in reference to one of two conditions, whose causes and symptoms are not identical.

“Ocular Migraine” usually refers to:

·         Migraine with aura

·         Retinal migraine

Although these conditions are in many ways similar, they are actually two separate diagnoses. However, both are commonly referred to as an “ocular migraine”. 

Migraine with Aura 

Many, although not all, migraine sufferers report experiencing an “aura” as part of their migraine. Auras are visual effects which often occur during the onset of a migraine headache. Migraines are caused by cascading neural activity, known as a “brainstorm”; when this process occurs in the parts of the brain responsible for vision and imagery, hallucinatory images may occur. What is seen has much to do with what regions of the occipital lobe, which is the part of the brain responsible for visual processing, are involved.

In the “aura” phase of a migraine, patients often report seeing:

-          Brightly colored lines or “blobs”, which appear and move about in the visual field.

-          Zigzag lines

-          A vibrating effect that encompasses the entire visual field

-          A “scotoma”, which is a blind spot or spots in the visual field. These may be observed to spread slowly.

-          “Scintillating scotoma”, a bright shimmering patch in the visual field.

-          Temporary loss of vision in one or both eyes

-          “Macropsias” and “Micropsias”. These terms refer to the distortion in the visual field of the relative sizes of objects.

-          More complex patterns in the visual field, often described as resembling a kaleidoscope. Sometimes these can even involve more detailed figures, such as people and animals.

In rare cases, a migraine can involve an aura, but not the headache most often associated with migraines. 

Retinal Migraines 

A “retinal migraine” is another type of ocular migraine. It is diagnostically distinct from a “migraine with aura”, although it is most common in patients with a history of migraines with aura. Retinal migraines are a disease of the retina, the cause of which is not yet completely understood. Although it involves a migraine-type headache, it is distinct in its causes and symptoms from other types of migraines.

Auras that accompany migraines generally affect both eyes. Retinal migraines, however, are confined to one eye. A retinal migraine sometimes manifests as a temporary loss of vision in the affected eye.

Symptoms of a retinal migraine are similar to those of a regular migraine aura, though they affect only one eye. Retinal migraines can also cause a total loss of vision in one eye. These effects generally subside within about an hour from onset. However, the vision loss may sometimes be more prolonged than this, lasting in some cases for weeks.

Retinal migraines are less fully understood than other types of migraines. They are often treated with similar medications.

Let’s review: “Ocular migraine” does not refer to just one disease, but to more than one similar but distinct condition each being. Furthermore, the term may refer to a “migraine with aura”, which in some rare cases occurs without headache or “retinal migraine”, a rarer type of migraine that affects only one eye. Typically these conditions are treated with medications; however there are natural & safe alternative treatment options available such as: modifying diet, incorporating exercise, and a new revolutionary technology known as Neurofeedback Therapy. This therapy has been known to treat a wide array of neurological disorders including: migraines, chronic pain, anxiety, & sleeping disorders.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR MIGRAINES