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Ocular Migraines

Ocular Migraine Treatment

Eye Center of Atlanta - Ocular Migraine Treatment, Atlanta, Georgia

Migraine Awareness Month:

An ocular migraine is any migraine headache that involves a visual disturbance such as flashes of light, seeing stars or zigzags or the appearance of blind spots in the visual field. Ocular migraines can interfere with your ability to go about your daily tasks such as driving, reading or writing, however, the visual symptoms don’t last long and do go away completely once the migraine has passed.

Eye Center of Atlanta - Comprehensive Eye Exams in Atlanta, Georgia

Eye Center of Atlanta, your local Comprehensive Eye Exams in Atlanta,Georgia.

We are conveniently located at, 501 Pulliam Street Southwest, Suite 139, and service Capital Gateway, Summerhill, Grant Park & Peoplestown.

Contact us for Eye Care Services.

What is an Ocular Migraine?

The term ocular migraine may refer to a couple of different conditions. Firstly, migraines with auras often have eye-related symptoms that precede the actual headache.

An aura is a physical symptom that is experienced usually within 5 minutes to an hour before a migraine comes on, and can include:

  • Blind spots (scotomas) or partial vision loss
  • Flashes of light, spots or zigzag patterns
  • Visual, auditory (hearing) or olfactory (smell) hallucinations or disruptions
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Mental fog, trouble finding words and speaking
  • These types of ocular migraines commonly appear by obstructing a small area of vision which spreads gradually over 5 minutes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), migraines "almost certainly" have a genetic basis, and some studies say 70 percent of people who suffer from the disorder have a family history of migraine headaches. Read More

A second type of ocular migraine is when you actually experience temporary vision loss or disruptions (flashes, blind spots, zigzag lines etc.) during or immediately following the migraine headache. Ocular migraines can also sometimes appear without any head pain at all. They may also be called eye, ophthalmic, or retinal migraines.

Ocular Migraine Treatment in Atlanta, Georgia

What Causes Ocular Migraines?

Similar to classic migraines, the exact cause of an ocular migraine is unknown. Genetic predisposition seems to be a factor to some extent, and having a family history of migraines does put you at greater risk.

While they don’t know the cause, experts have seen that spasms in the blood vessels and nerve cells in the retinal lining at the back of the eye are associated with ocular migraine symptoms.

For some, there are certain environmental triggers, or a combination of factors, that cause migraines.

These differ on an individual basis but can include:

  • Stress
  • Bright lights or loud sounds
  • Strong smells
  • A sudden or drastic change in weather conditions
  • Eating, or exposure to, certain food substances such as, alcohol, caffeine, nitrates, MSG (monosodium glutamate), artificial sweeteners and tyramine.

Since triggers are different for everyone it’s advised to try to identify yours by keeping a journal to track your environment, diet and lifestyle habits, when you experience a headache.

What foods cause ocular migraines? Make an appointment to find out if you are at risk ?

Call Eye Center of Atlanta on (404) 589-8517 in Atlanta, Georgia to schedule an eye exam with our optometrist.

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