Occular Migraines

hick · ‎03-28-2010

I'm just curious if any of you have experienced these occular migraines.

About 3 years ago, I was having them very frequently. I never get a headache with them, just the jagged lights in my eye.

At the time, I was having balance problems. I had a brain MRI that was normal.

I started taking meds and my balance problems resolved and I haven't had an occular migraine until several months ago. Last night, I had another one.

Just curious if any of you have experienced this.

AngelPuppy1 · ‎03-13-2010

Yes, I've had these for a number of years. When I first began experiencing this, I was really frightened -- I thought maybe I was having a stroke or something! Any way, I underwent a large battery of tests and then was disagnosed with this and I get those terrible spots which go into all kinds of crazy, spreading and jumping patterns and then they almost totally block my sight. When I start to get a migraine, I first get so very tired, the back of my head begins to ache and I start to feel kind of disoriented. After I have had one, it takes me a couple days to feel right. I just feel totally drained. Thankfully, since I've been on medication, I don't experience them too often now. They're really scary though, aren't they?

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Bhvbum · ‎07-18-2010

I got my first one about 25 years ago and I have mentioned it to my doctor and ophthalmologist and no one seems to be concerned. Every so often I get one and I simply ignore it and it goes away.

sandy53 · ‎03-12-2010

I got my first migraine aura when I was in high school. I was in the library and I thought I was dying. It was so scary. It was followed by the classic headache. That pattern continued for many years, but the headaches were never debilitating like some people have. Now in my 60's I only get the aura and not the headache. My triggers seem to be stress, lack of sleep, and/or bright/flashing lights.

violann · ‎03-10-2010

@hick wrote:
I'm just curious if any of you have experienced these occular migraines.
About 3 years ago, I was having them very frequently. I never get a headache with them, just the jagged lights in my eye.
At the time, I was having balance problems. I had a brain MRI that was normal.
I started taking meds and my balance problems resolved and I haven't had an occular migraine until several months ago. Last night, I had another one.
Just curious if any of you have experienced this.

WOW, am I glad you posted.

I'm in week 4 of a Covid infection, learning slowly that while everyone sort of finds out "the basics" of having Covid, it also comes with some curiously unexpected zingers.

And you JUST put your finger on my last 3 or 4 days- an odd change in hearing, feeling as though my balance is uncontrollably shifting from one side to the other, the "fireworks" in my left eye- BINGO!

MY headache free migraine symptoms USUALLY show up in high stress periods of my life, and yeah, not knowing whether you're going to need to be hospitalized is mighty stressful for me.

Before I was diagnosed Covid positive my BP was higher than typical for me, but now for the last few days, it's been fine. I keep an eye on it (no pun intended) when I have THE MIGRAINES.

@hick, THANK YOU, and hoping your issues disappear soon!

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

Yes! I have the same experience with it that you do. Mine started at the age of 47, and I can determine nothing that triggers them. They just appear. I have no headache ever--just the zigzag lights. It takes about 45 minutes before it all stops. I haven't had one in months...maybe over a year now...but that means nothing. One can show up at any time. I saw an ophthalmologist when they first started, as I was scared something was seriously wrong, but there isn't. This is exactly what mine look like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVFIcF9lyk8

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

@violann ---first and foremost,violann---I am so sorry you are sick with these horrible virus!! am sending all the best to you and hope you are going to be good on the other side of it-----

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

i've had 3 of those weird things happen to me too--there is no pain with them, just kind of tunnel vision for a few minutes and kind of a bright fog around the whole eye. Had 2 within a few weeks of each one--zig-zags like lightening bolts and then I had those floaters in my eyes afterwards--went to the eye dr and she could see them too--they were kind of big then, but have gotten smaller---what she said to watch for is if those zig zags are black--signs of a detached retina---

fancy pantsy · ‎06-25-2014

i have migraines but hardly ever accompanied by the actual headache. sometimes its vertigo/balalce and nausea that lays me flat ... and sometimes its occular. these started when i was in my early 60's. sometimes they are triggered by the full moon and sometimes barametric pressure ... but seems like since i have been on blood pressure medicine that i don't get them as often. coincidence? i don't know.

VaBelle35 · ‎03-10-2010

I've had 2.

The first one, I had no idea what it was and wasn't even going to say anything to my ophthalmologist, but while I was waiting for my eyes to dilate, I was looking at this poster she has with various eye issues and what you see with each one.

I had a blank spot in my vision and the jagged lights/flashing. It lasted about 20 minutes. No headache.

So I mentioned it to her. She said there are 2 things to check: hormones and carotid artery. I had just gone off BCPs after 27 years, so it was more likely hormones, but I did have both bloodwork for hormones and an ultrasound of my carotid arteries to make sure there was no blockage.

The second one I had was very mild, very small blank spot, but I did go in to be examined as it was slightly different than the first one and it could have also been a tear, so I wanted to be sure.

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