Causes Of Ocular Migraine Remain Misunderstood
While most people associate migraines with severe and debilitating headaches, not all migraine activity is accompanied by pain. Additionally, some visual symptoms of a migraine headache may be seen, without the accompanying pain and may be related to a ocular migraine affecting the visual response portion of the brain. It is believed that migraines are caused by a disturbance of blood flow to various parts of the brain, causing pain when blood vessels become dilated or closed, and ocular migraine sufferers may not realize they are suffering this type of migraine.
Visiting an eye doctor or ophthalmologist may not be able to reveal any type of treatment for an ocular migraine. Despite many doctors knowing what the symptoms are revealing, the treatment of such visual acuities remains a mystery, as do the causes. It is not uncommon for those symptoms to be the same as those with migraine headaches, but there usually is no pain involved.
Those suffering from an ocular migraine usually experience a small blind spot that seems to grow larger or a circular zig-zag line that interferes with their vision. Lines may also appear in the field of vision without any associated pain. These ocular migraine episodes can last from a few minutes to a half hour, depending on the individual.
Vision Problems Should Always Be Verified
While most consider an ocular migraine to be harmless, a person experiencing some of the symptoms should be checked out by an eye doctor. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as a detached retina, which will require medical intervention. Those suffering from an ocular migraine will need to be careful when they experience an attack, especially if involved in an activity requiring sharp vision such as driving. The activity will need to stop immediately, until the ocular migraine episode subsides.
Treatment options are essentially non-existent but if the episodes are frequent and spaced close together, a doctor or ophthalmologist may be able to prescribe drugs to reduce the frequency of ocular migraine attacks. Once a patient is prescribed drugs for this problem, it will usually be for an extended period.
Patients who are made aware that they are suffering from ocular migraine attacks will need to take specific action at the onset to avoid causing injury to themselves or to others. Remaining still until the episode passes is recommended and if they continue or additional vision problems become apparent, contacting a qualified eye doctor is strongly suggested.
