Ocular Migraine (Retinal Migraine) vs. Migraine Aura EXPLAINED | How to treat and prevent

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In this video, Dr. Michael Chua discusses ocular or retinal migraines and migraine with aura. He talks about the best ways to treat and prevent these conditions.
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:56 What are ocular migraines and migraine with aura?
2:16 Ocular Migraine (Retinal Migraine)
3:04 Ocular Migraine Triggers
3:40 Ocular Migraine Treatment and Prevention
5:33 Migraine Aura
6:24 Migraine Treatment and Prevention
7:13 Other Important Causes of Vision Loss
8:09 Summary
Connect with Dr Michael Chua on social media
/ michaelchuamd
Website:
www.puentehillseyecare.com/
Hashtags
#MichaelChuaMD #ocularmigraine #migraineaura #migraine
MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER: All content in this video and description were created for informational purposes only. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with questions you have regarding health conditions. Accessing, viewing or reading this content does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and the author.

[@repro7780]

In my youth, I would sometimes get an aura, with the zigzag lines, flashing lights, etc. The first sign it was coming was a blind spot, like looking at a face, and I can't see the nose. The aura would get worse, going across my field of vision. I'm also feeling "out of it". Once the aura subsided, then came the hammer; an awful migraine. Now that I'm older, I still get aura's occasionally, but once it goes away, no migraine! I still feel sleepy, a bit dizzy, etc. I saw a neurologist, and he told me that can happen as you age. People who don't have migraines have no idea. "Take a tylenol" they say. No idea what they are like. Your life stops. Only a dark, cool, quiet room with a cold, wet cloth on my forehead would work, and max tylenol dose. I have only vomited a couple of times during a migraine, and its the worst thing imaginable; having a throbbing headache, and retching hard over a toilet...you just want it all to end. 59 yo male.

[@gamerz000.]

I am 15 and have nearly the same problem but I only get the zigzag broken screen like lines that expand thorough the whole eyes and goes away after that a headache with dizziness.

[@Tralfagal]

Omg, this perfectly describes what I have. The random blindspot is always the start of it and then the aura follows moving across horizontally my vision spectrum.

[@kanhaiya153]

​@@gamerz000....Hey. ...I'm also 15 years old...and I too have this problem...since i was 11 years old...but now after seeing this video I got known of this kind of migrane...really getting a aura and after that a horrible headache is a very bad exprience...

[@RedRebel008]

were the blind spots shadowy???? And would these shimmering lights last for 6-7 seconds or 6-7 minutes???? I know I shouldn't rely on internet for medical advice, but I just want to confirm before I go to a doctor complaining of neural disorder.

[@gamerz000.]

@@kanhaiya153 yeah same

[@deztroyer76]

I get the jagged lines in both eyes (not 2 sets of lines…if I close just one eye, either one, it’s there in my vision in the same spot) and slight problem focusing straight ahead in the area of the lines. Usually takes about 20 minutes for the lines to slowly move across my vision until they’re gone. No headache or migraine ever follows. Happens a few times a year.

[@devdroid9606]

This is very likely a detachment of the vitreous humor. It is common in adults 50 and over. It means that the jelly that fills the eyeball is shrinking and pulling away or that there are small protein fibres that are formed within this jelly, called floaters. Floaters look like something like hair is on your camera lens. An optometrist or ophthalmologist can confirm with an eye exam. A related symptom is that when you shake your head in a totally dark room, you see a flash of light.

[@trinacogitating4532]

​@@devdroid9606I disagree. I've had floaters for many years. I have also had migraine with aura, with the jagged line visual symptom. It looks completely different from floaters.

[@joan.nao1246]

​​@@devdroid9606 I disagree. A lifetime of floaters, vitreous detachments, ocular & typical migraines all present with unique & different symptoms, as well as affect each eye's vision differently.

[@ritahall8148]

I get the same symptoms, preceded by some blind spots, with no subsequent headache. My mother got bad migraines and I used to get frequent but not severe headaches that woul last up to a few days, but these were never associated with migraine aura.

[@Moondoggy1941]

I get the same thing, sometimes it gets really bad and vision is affected, now I just lay down in a dark room.

[@shewho333]

My teenager has had “migraines” for several years now that mimic a stroke. One time, one side of her face was drooping, she lost sensation in her left sided hand and leg, and while she was talking to me, she was no longer speaking in a language I could understand. I raced her to the hospital, and because she had “migraines” on her previous chart, the triage nurses labeled it a headache and by the time the doctor got to us, it was too late for a CT or MRI and the event seemed to be correcting itself (much like a mini stroke). It’s horrifying every time it happens. Often, she loses all peripheral vision on one side or the other. I wish I could fix it for her.

[@squareonedocumentary-mjisi6058]

Can I ask you a question ? Is it possible to go blind forever from this?

[@squareonedocumentary-mjisi6058]

can people die from this?

[@sugarhill0627]

This happens to me..just happened at work..I get big black spots in vision and it's a warning call that I'm about to get worst migraine ever

[@harishv21]

​@@sugarhill0627Will this cause any big problem?

[@deonsairyfairypage2415]

She could be having a hemiplegic migraine.

[@phishfan]

I get an aura that starts as a tiny spot and then grows into a jagged kaleidoscope that blocks out the centre of my vision. I was diagnosed with ocular migraines, but it is in both eyes. I do not get the headache nor any other symptoms. The episodes last almost exactly 20 minutes and then completely disappear. Started about 5 years ago, happens a couple of times per year, sometimes while hiking or trail running especially in cool weather. Can also happen spontaneously.

[@mssmssmssmss]

That is the aura without other migraine symptoms, a third kind of experience which the doctor did not discuss. Other comments here discuss this, too. I had my first bad experience in middle age, but I think I may have been having very mild ones for a long time, perhaps even since childhood. My sister had one at an even older age. I am not sure if she has had more, though. I have not been able to figure out what may trigger them, except maybe stress.

[@josephinelong3214]

I get these too. Exactly as you describe. There doesn't seem to be any reason, they don't connect with my "ordinary" migraines

[@lindaladner4949]

I also have ocular migraines in both eyes, as do both of my daughters. I notice I cannot see what I am looking at (like reading) which is not a black dot but rather multicolored. That spot slowly gets wider and my central vision returns with the outer vision being “wavey”. This pattern continues until my full vision is restored. It does not precede a headache but I do feel a bit dizzy during the wavey peripheral vision part. This has been going on since I was in my twenties and I am now 71. I have noticed that bright lights will trigger these episodes so I avoid facing exterior windows on sunny days, etc.

[@lindaladner4949]

PS These episodes last about 20 minutes.

[@johnbrewer1893]

exactly what ive had….nvr knew anyone but me had these

[@ang3ni]

Love this. Such clear explanation of both types of migraines

[@cyndimanka]

I had the auras, but I never had the headache. I went to my eye doctor, and he told me what it was. I figured it was stress. I haven’t had them for a very, very, very long time. I’m retired now, but it was when I was working and I’m going to say it was stress.

[@annakatebertolet2703]

A misconception is that migraines are really bad headaches, but that's far from the truth. Often a headache accompanies them, but a lot of people (including myself) don't get "headaches". I get violently nauseated and can't see out my periphery because of the aura.

[@118Shadow118]

@@annakatebertolet2703 supposedly only about a third of people have migraines accompanied by a headache. I'm one of the "lucky" ones... not fun. It always start with a weird "phantom limb" feeling, like my hand isn't mine, then I get the aura for 20-30 min, then sometimes numbness in hands or mouth and then a very, very bad headache, which lasts for 1-2 hours. If I manage to time it right, sometimes Ibuprofen does help On the plus side, I only get them 1-2 times a year. I used to get them more often in my teens (I'm in my thirties now)

[@dotsmyfavorite2]

​@@beelzebub3920 antihistamine helps me. I get these when seasons change, or temps change quickly out of season. If it's seasonal allergy time (spring or fall) I also need sinus meds. For about a week's span. I can use Walmart generic 24 hour allergy pills, and during the day add a cheap sinus medicine. That gets me through those week spans. I hope that helps you.

[@biggirlonatreadmill1209]

I had my first one a few weeks after a severe migraine. I had no clue what was happening and freaked out wondering why my sight looked like the mirror dimension from Dr Strange. No pain and after a few minutes it was gone. Haven’t had a migraine since then.

[@skeelatheskink8724]

@@annakatebertolet2703check for a brain tumor.

[@imonearthnow1903]

Excellent information presentation. I wish more KZbin channels would stay on point the way you do. Thank you.

[@dragonofcuriosity757]

This video really helped me yo be less scared about what is happening when I experience this. Thank you.

[@wildcrafttattoo]

I’ve been getting them lately after riding my peloton really hard…thank you for this video. Made me less stressed, and I feel like I need to work on my hydration and turning down the headphones while I ride . 🙏🏼

[@tpbchocoholic]

Thank you for posting this and clarifying these conditions; very helpful- eduction is key.

[@ElizabethFloraRoss]

This was so helpful! I experienced my first ocular migraine a few months ago, and it freaked me out. I have a long history of migraines with visual aura. But this was completely different, and I had no idea what was happening. I was scared. It hasn’t happened again, but I did discuss it at my annual eye exam.

[@juniperjasmine12]

Well I'm glad someone knows about these migraines. I feel like I know more than most of my doctors about migraines. One nurse straight up just thought I was having a stroke and wouldn't believe that it was a migraine.

[@mikeh2613]

Very informative. I began suffering migraines, with aura, 60 years ago after suffering a compressed fracture of the skull and have lived them ever since. In the early years they were full on. I dreaded them, nausea, violent headaches etc. over the years I found that if I took ibuprofen painkillers at the onset of the aura, which usually last some 20 minutes, I would be pain free and no nausea. A friend’s daughter who suffered with them now does what I do and can now deal with them as I do. It does make me smile when I hear someone say, “I have a blinding migraine headache”, for any old headache. There is nothing like a migraine headache and I used to be out of it for a couple of days. I now manage my migraines pretty well thankfully.

[@Anfaltlm]

Can recurring migraines accompanied by aura cause a brain tumor or heart attack?

[@rupeshpatel1566]

Thank you that was a fantastic explanation and walk through!

[@shumailakanwal6213]

I was here after a swear attack of migraine with aura. But on seeing your smiling cute face i forgot all my tension. God bless you dear . I think you have some healing power for others.

[@KBradAdams]

Great Video Doctor. I have aura's in both eyes always. Started late 20's, has gotten worse over the years. Sleep is my number 1 cause. I have tried to eliminate certain foods over the years with no help there. Lately I have been chewing 1 aspirin and 1 Advil or Tylenol and that seems to stop the headache but they usually last 3 hours and I get all the symptoms, then numbness and aphasia but it always passes. Sometimes I get a increase is hearing or smelling before the aura's start but not always. Usually blind spots in my vision then the zig zags. I hope everyone watching this video figures it out or can at least improve their symptoms.

[@kt1696]

Have you ever had a fraction of a zigzag aura stick in your field of vision for a week. I'm on day 9 now. It's like the tiny zigzag that's starts the aura and then recedes after an hour or so. Except I still have this tiny portion not resolving. Suffered since age 6yrs now 75yrs.had all kinds of auras and associated symptoms that go with migraines. Ever evolving. 🤔😩

[@KBradAdams]

@@kt1696 I have never had that! Did you take any medicine for it when it first started on day 1? I would probably schedule a visit with my eye doctor just to make sure nothing else is going on. I had a retinal scan recently but it showed nothing however I was not having the zigzags at the time or a migraine. I hope it goes away soon.

[@kt1696]

@@KBradAdams I had half dose of my medication, consisting of one tablet called migralive pink. Has an anti nausea and a strong pain killer. When the visual aura struck. I've had several more full blown auras followed by a migrain headache, just took the same dose, each time. Those auras dissapeared like they always have done in the past. At the start of this problem when I looked at my hubby's face, his right appeared very vivid and big whilst I couldn't see the left side of his face from his eye to his lip area, if I looked at his left eye, I could see both eyes and his face, but the left eye appeared very light coloured and smaller. That issue has now resolved, all I'm left with is just small area of this aura from a week this Monday. It doesn't matter which of my eyes I cover up, the aura is the same, so i know it's not my eyes, it's definitely my brain. I am due an eye exam, but I don't see how i can get an accurate one while this darned aura fragment is in the way. I'll probably have to pay for two. But yes i will go. I'm hope another day or two will resolve the issue. I've also experienced some weard auras I've never had before. In all other areas I'm fine.

[@TangentOmega]

These can be very hard to describe accurately. I was misdiagnosed with ocular migraines because of intermittent blurry vision. Turns out it's Multiple Sclerosis. Because of varied symptoms, each specialist diagnosed me with a condition in their specialty, without putting them all together until i saw a neurologist.

[@stevielloyd6519]

He talks so fast it gives me a migraine.

[@donicarobinson24]

RRMS here. I've gotten these fifteen minute fractal, ice-on-a-window, annoying vision problems without pain for a decade. I'm sure mine is related to old brain scars and fluctuating blood flow, but I doubt everyone else posting about it here has MS. I'd love a name for it.

[@TangentOmega]

@@donicarobinson24 SPMS. Sorry but my vision problems stopped soon after getting diagnosed. Never got any more clarification. If there's no pain, you can still function and it's not progressing, 👍🏻

[@sheela4537]

Did you have white lesions in your brain and spine?

[@TangentOmega]

@@sheela4537 yes. When I asked, how many he said they were uncountable.

[@silicon212]

I get both types of migraine ... both ocular and classic. Classic migraines for me started around age 9, while ocular migraine started around age 17. I'm 55 now and still get both.

[@KMx108]

I'm 48 and have had these migraines since I was a young teenager. I was recently diagnosed with pernicious anemia and started methylcobalamin (B12) injections. I was amazed at how the frequency of my migraines reduced. It seems like all I really needed all these years was methylcobalamin. All I was ever given was expensive pharmaceuticals. Of those, though....I have to say Nurtec ODT is the most effective. Expensive, but effective.

[@Furthea2]

I got very lucky. Years ago I had my first Ocular incident and it was very worrying and then nothing for months, then suddenly another. Passed from center to the edge of the eye and gone with out a trace. Starting in my very early 20's, That happened maybe 2-3 times a year, but after the first year a light headache started after, then a moderate. The very last one I had came with pretty bad nausea and a strong headache and it hasn't happened since. I'm just glad that after the first headache, I had the warning of the Ocular. It was only a couple years after the last incident that I learned these were actually a version of Migraine, which my mother suffered full-blown for much of her adult life.

[@helmuthahn1352]

Finde einen Arzt, der klassisch homöopathisch arbeitet. Die Homöopathie kennt solche Phänomene und hat Medikamente dagegen

[@ShakuraKazuki]

I don't get migraines but one time, I got really scared by an aura. I was at work, reading something and then my vision became weird. The text in my visual focus was blurred but I could still read what was around it. A black blob appeared in my field of view (not in the center) that grew a little, then stopped growing, but prevailed. It also moved. Other than that, I was fine. No headache or anything else. I got scared, got up, got out for breakfast and it disappeared right after I finished eating. It was 8 or so years ago and I never had something like that ever again.

[@JaneCrossan]

As it disappeared after you'd eaten it may have been that you had low blood sugar. This happens to me sometimes. I have diabetes and also suffer from migraines ❤

[@BrennoFerrari]

Some people have migraine aura without migraine headache. I do from time to time.

[@ellehan3003]

I get migraine auras and have noticed the same thing with reading. Its as if your brain cuts out the middle of your vision so you have to read one letter at a time..

[@painetdldy]

Freaked me out the first time it happened to me. I was temporarily blind! No migraine before or after

[@kennethryesky417]

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for putting it all in concise perspective. Approximately 16 years ago I experienced, in both eyes, what I had described as a "pixellating green phosphene" (probably what you call "shimmering shapes." No headaches or digestive distress, but central vision makes it difficult to do my work (on laptop computer). My optometrist informed me, after I described it to her, that it was the same mechanism as a migraine. I experienced these from time to time (anywhere from 2 hours to three months between episodes), and my remedy was to quietly lie down and close my eyes, and after anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes I was back to normal. The instance before the last episode, I was out doing shopping; it all disappeared in about 5 minutes. I have not done any statistical study, but episodes seem to be more prone to occur when I am more sleep deficient than the norm. I now am located overseas (have not lived in Orange County for more than 65 years), and some of the physicians here have trouble understanding what I had been trying to describe. Maybe some American-trained physician here will be able to figure out what my issues are (if they recur; have not occurred for the past few months) if I use the term "Migraine Aura."

[@mssmssmssmss]

You are lucky that an optometrist knew about it. I think many do not. It is a different specialty from ophthalmology, and my former ophthalmologist, who had become the head of the department, said it is not really an eye issue, but a neurology issue. And he didn't suggest seeing a neurologist -- it seems there was not enough to be concerned about or treat -- they go away pretty quickly but be careful when driving because they can affect you more than you realize.

[@JonesieMoon]

Thank you! I always wondered why only one eye was my “aura eye!” I have both chronic migraine with aura and one eye aura.

[@roowyrm9576]

When i was around 11 (1966) I developed periodic black/blind spots in the centre of my vision, no headache, but followed by vomiting. Since then i have gone through phases of migraines of various different kinds. Sometimes with visual disturbances, sometimes with sickness and sometimes with headaches. I'm now nearly 70, and i'm still getting them. They all, however, fit into the aura category.

[@robertivers4200]

When i get an ocular migraine aura i take 2 ibuprofin and keeps from getting a migraine. Started in early 40s now 75. Have had cataract surgery😊

[@alphalunamare]

An epic presentation of how the multiplicity of words can oculate true meaning.

[@SaraFrancis-]

*MR OBALAR* ON KZbin CURED ME TOTALLY❤😍🤚🏿😘

[@SaraFrancis-]

*MR OBALAR* ON KZbin CURED ME TOTALLY❤😍🤚🏿😘

[@LTWILTON]

It's that 3rd cup of coffee every time! There's never any pain (& I don't get headaches anyway, lucky me) and the duration is about 20 minutes. One thing I would add is to IMMEDIATELY STOP DRIVING. If I avoid that 3rd cup, then I avoid the ocular migraine ... I mess up with the caffeine maybe every 3 years or so, but knowing I'll be okay in few minutes is very calming. Thank you for this video!

[@kenwittlief255]

the blind spot stays in one place (in your vision) so if you move your eyes or your head you can scan your field of view, if you are driving for example when it starts, keep moving your eyes side to side until you can find a place to pull over and park for 15 minutes the dangerous thing about the blind spot is it does not look black or white, it just looks like there is nothing there, but there could be a car or a person.

[@moeflo3596]

Yes mam!! Caffeine ( coffee) absolutely does trigger it for me

[@gregorypirog6134]

This Video is very well done. Thank You Doctor Chua. It was Coffee & Tea for me and my sister. Took my sister 20 years to get it diagnosed in the 1990's. I am grateful that she informed me, when I finally got it. Ours also had random occurences of Vertigo. My Aura, both eyes, would start out as the vague blind spot, then 4 scintillating tiny squares which would grow into a zigzag letter 'C' of many many tiny scintillating squares. The C would grow larger and larger, till it seemed it must be 10 feet tall but I could only see a small portion of the bottom arc. Then all gone. I totally agree with the food journal but it didn't help me, because after first starting to drink Tea again, after none in 10 years, it took two or three weeks to ramp up and get the first Aura. Also if I drank Tea on Monday, the Aura might not appear till two or three days latter, randomly. So, I recommend that besides the daily journal, to also keep a running list of all food types consumed for a week. Then start a new running list each week. I think the correlation will become a little more obvious. The randomness will be less of a confusion factor. As Kenwittlief above said, the blind spot is odd, it is not Black or White. To 'see' the permanent ones that we all have, Google: "How to find the optic nerve blind spot" Videos Gregory/ The Pigeon Meister ... . 🐦‍⬛

[@gregorypirog6134]

This Video is very well done. Thank You Doctor Chua. It was Coffee & Tea for me and my sister. Took my sister 20 years to get it diagnosed in the 1990's. I am grateful that she informed me, when I finally got it. Ours also had random occurences of Vertigo. My Aura, both eyes, would start out as the vague blind spot, then 4 scintillating tiny squares which would grow into a zigzag letter 'C' of many many tiny scintillating squares. The C would grow larger and larger, till it seemed it must be 10 feet tall but I could only see a small portion of the bottom arc. Then all gone. I totally agree with the food journal but it didn't help me. Because after first starting to drink Tea again, after none in 10 years, it took two or three weeks to ramp up and get the first Aura. Also if I drank Tea on Monday, the Aura might not appear till two or three days latter, randomly. So, I recommend that besides the daily journal, to also keep a running list of all food types consumed for a week. Then start a new running list each week. I think the correlation will become a little more obvious. The randomness will be less of a confusion factor. As Kenwittlief above said, the blind spot is odd, it is not Black or White. To 'see' the permanent ones that we all have, Google: "How to find the optic nerve blind spot" Videos Gregory/ The Pigeon Meister ... . 🐦‍⬛

[@gregorypirog6134]

This Video is very well done. Thank You Doctor Chua. It was Coffee & Tea for me and my sister. Took my sister 20 years to get it diagnosed in the 1990's. I am grateful that she informed me, when I finally got it. Ours also had random occurences of Vertigo. My Aura, both eyes, would start out as the vague blind spot, then 4 scintillating tiny squares which would grow into a zigzag letter 'C' of many many tiny scintillating squares. The C would grow larger and larger, till it seemed it must be 10 feet tall but I could only see a small portion of the bottom arc. Then all gone. I totally agree with the food journal but it didn't help me. Because after first starting to drink Tea again, after none in 10 years, it took two or three weeks to ramp up and get the first Aura. Also if I drank Tea on Monday, the Aura might not appear till two or three days latter, randomly. So, I recommend that besides the daily journal, to also keep a running list of all food types consumed for a week. Then start a new running list each week. I think the correlation will become a little more obvious. The randomness will be less of a confusion factor. As Kenwittlief above said, the blind spot is odd, it is not Black or White. To 'see' the permanent ones that we all have, Google: "How to find the optic nerve blind spot" Videos Gregory/ The Pigeon Meister ... . 🐦‍⬛

[@terriem3922]

Thank you. Now I know that I have migraine aura. I see a shimmery white area that blocks out part of my vision, and it is exactly the same shape in both eyes. Fortunately it isn't painful. It usually passes within 20 minutes, and happens 1 to 3 times a month. I have never told anyone about it.

[@KabobHope]

I have this same thing. A shimmery spot appears that is the same shape in both eyes. I lie down and it usually resolves in a half hour. There is never pain.

[@Sydroo1969]

Same here. Never any headaches. Blind spots in both eyes. I usually just go lay down with my eyes closed til it passes. My mom and siblings have painful migraines.

[@carlr2837]

@@Sydroo1969 Yes, exactly the same here, blind spots, but no headache. I had three in a week a few years ago, identified the trigger, and stopped doing, whatever it was. I haven't had one since, but I've forgotten what the trigger was.

[@carlr2837]

@@baiseduezcke2295 Hehe, maybe. I've been thinking about it, and I think it was too much coffee, and I cut back by a cup or two a day. I've been creeping back up, so if I start getting them again, Ill know for sure.

[@sherriemuller4272]

I had migraines from the time I was six until I was into my mid thirties. They were aura migraines. I also got v vomiting with these headaches. I tried prescriptions nothing seemed to work. On a occasion I went with a friend for a drive when she rent to see her chiropractor, not for a treatment. When she was getting her treatment she explained to the chiropractor that I had severe migrains. He explained to me that he found free me of my migraines. I thought okay I will give it a try. I had my first adjustment that day. He told me to come back in a week for a second adjustment. The day if the first treatment I had the worst migraine I had ever had. I went back in a week and had the second adjustment. To this day, thank the LORD, I have not had another migraine, I still get the auras from time to time and still to this day wait for the migraine but it does not come.

[@joshuastoner9727]

Med student here in snowy MN, I had an episode of bilateral scintillation scotoma but no headache whatsoever. Was well hydrated and no identifying trigger except studying by a window with a lot of sunlight bouncing off the snow and a lot of screen time. My brother in law came back from ice fishing in similar conditions and also had the same visual changes. Both situations resolved in under an hour with resting the eyes.

[@seeceejay8912]

Suffered migraines since my early 20s, they were just awful with vomiting.. in 52 now and peri menopause seems to cause more frequent attacks, but the difference is i now also sometimes get auras. Just today I felt the tell tale headache and took my tryptophan in time, but suffered 45mins of my own light show instead.

[@kenwittlief255]

same with me: cloudy vision, could not speak or write clearly, numbness in my face, emptied my stomach, terrible pain in my brain, passed out a few times - 3 to 5 years apart was not correctly diagnosed until the 4th overnight stay in the hospital, CT scans, MRI, spinal tap...they thought drug overdose, stroke, aneurism.... till one Dr got it right: complex migraines

[@lmw716]

Just learned the ocular migraines I was diagnosed with are aura migraines. Thanks! (They’re super rare for me, so I’ve never been able to find a trigger.)

[@spiritwaterwolf]

I so appreciate you sharing the knowledge to help some of us whom suffer with migraine auras. Migraines are definitely in a special category of their own, but there are many more variants out there and medical specialists that can go further into depth into those various migraines. The one variety that I had been very well versed in, is the type that is triggered by atmospheric pressure changes. Nausea, light sensitivity, and other triggers from the inflammation, and over sensitive pain receptors. Some medications may not be as helpful, and have found that magnesium supplements offer some significant help in buffering the neurons that become over excited and cause the pain, discomfort, and also minimizing the chances of migraine and auras.

[@Anfaltlm]

Can recurring migraines accompanied by aura cause a brain tumor or stroke?? Can recurring migraines accompanied by aura cause a brain tumor or stroke??

[@maryleigh8990]

Well its migraine aura for me. The trigger is reflected light. A bright flash of light, like the sun reflecting off the river. But there in no headache.

[@ellenstrack6274]

Occular migraines are horrible. I was getting them a few times a month until the neurologist figured out a med routine that got my headaches/ migraines under control.

[@clovislyme6195]

Like many others, I had migraine in my 20s and 30s. They went away, but in recent years I tend to have the zig zag lines in my left eye from time to time, and retinal migraine - whole or partial loss of vision in my right eye (very rarely my left, and never both at the same time), lasting for only a few minutes. The latter is very alarming when first it happens, but now I just relax, close that eye, and it soon clears. Both phenomena can happen at any time - even when I am sleeping. They can occur more than once in a day, or several times a week, then vanish entirely for weeks. I can't find any triggers for them. Over the past few months I had cataract operations and I think (it is early days), that I may be experiencing fewer occurrences of both phenomena - which is contrary to my intuition that they might provoke more.

[@genehunter1626]

I'm over eighty and have had migraine aura since I was a teenager. In my case, I would have a series of incidents over several months, and then it would be quiet for as much as a year. It usually starts with a blind spot in the centre, growing into shimerring lines which gradually expand out of my vision, lasting about half an hour. The odd thing is that I had a heart attack about six years ago and was rushed into emergency for a stent implacement. I had an incident before and during the surgery. As it turned out, I needed a second stent, and when that procedure occured several weeks later, the same thing happened. The really strange thing is that I haven't had an occurance since.

[@sinstarussunniva6890]

I have ocular auras. I've spoken with two other doctors, a neurologist, and orthologist. neither knew what I was saying and then here it is. my aura goes well with my extremely loud tinnitus

[@luannpatterson5888]

I had migraines as an early teenager. I’d get an aura that was like the sun reflecting off chrome. Grew out of them. Had my first OM when I was 8 months pregnant.

[@learnova1761]

Had this for the first time in my life while driving today (migraine aura) and it was absolutely terrifying! Glad it wasn't anything more severe haha, thank you!

[@drjewlsy]

I have had 7 spinal cord surgeries, I get meningeal migraines from then cutting into my spinal cord and removing cysts and tumors. I get a vibration in my spine at the beginning of a migraine. Took years to connect the 2. As in some of my surgeries I had spinal fluid leakage, which predisposed me to these migraines. Don't let anyone diminish your symptoms. Be the squeaky wheel.

[@Jjoa1]

CELERY JUICE 3-5 times saved me from the aura.I have not had it since! Preferably organic celery. I used to get aura attacks weekly, and after I discovered celery juice Im 100 % fine. If too many days passes between my juices I may start to get pre warnings, I then drink a full glass and it goes right away! It does not always help against migraine, but the aura is gone thank God!

[@xomikey5725]

thank you i will try this celery juice 3-5 times a day ? or week?

[@Jjoa1]

Per week, use the whole stack, leafs and everything, make sure its organic

[@gypsylizardqueen8572]

Celery juice can cause photosensitivity…. Along with being exceptionally high in oxalates…. I’d avoid it

[@thefreckledafrikan]

WEEKLY????????? 😮😮😮😮😮😮 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

I made an animation, just a few seconds long, showing how the aura looks for me. The moving colors, overall shape. It does not capture how the crescent grows. I do not experience a blank area within the crescent, or maybe somehow I don't notice it. No flashes or other non-ordinary visual phenomenon. I never have a headache or any other symptoms at the time. This happens once or twice a year, since I was maybe around 20. Someone suggested making an animation running the full time the aura lasts, showing how it starts, how it fades away. I might do that someday.

[@terismidt4920]

I get migraines every time it rains. I get what I call orbs on the sides of my eyes a lot. I also get what feels like one eye is bouncing around. I ask people around me if they can see it bouncing, and they say no. Thank you for this video.

[@txlady1049]

I went for years having ocular migraines. No one believed me. Even this year, I spoke with my optometrist, and he had no idea what I was talking about. Mine starts with a sense of pressure in one eye, along with slight blurring of my vision. Then I get a shimmering circle in the center of my field of vision. At that point, I can see well enough to walk, but not to read or drive. After a few minutes, the shimmering circle starts expanding, eventually reaching the edge of my field of vision and disappearing. My vision will be normal at that point, and there will still be a little bit of pressure in the affected eye, which goes away after a few minutes. There is no pain associated with this.

[@jeffro118]

I had the same issue except I never felt pressure, but otherwise your description is spot on. My optometrist was also no help. I think caffeine tended to trigger them for me, but it wasn't consistent. I started taking fish oil supplements in late 2013 for other reasons, but the occurrence and duration of my ocular migraines began to fall off until now I can't recall when the last episode was, except it has been multiple years. It took a few months to fully work, but the ocular migraines became less frequent and were noticeably shorter in duration when they did occur. I read somewhere that fish oil may increase the elasticity of the blood vessels in your eyes and brain, and if spasming of the blood vessels is what causes this, then perhaps increased elasticity may be what counters it. My theory only, but it has worked for me.

[@reeeseeee]

@jeffro118 same, mine today and when I woke up because of cellphones flashlight, usually mine triggers super bright light. Having anxiet sometimes. Especially when this occurs. Kinda scared tho. Been like this for 7 years, usually once a year but lately it's like once a year anymore.

[@RG.......]

Are you taking any vitamins or treatment to reduce the visual aura migraine? What does your Doc suggest

[@KreeH2023]

For me, it's slowly moving lighting bolts on outer periphery of my sight even with both eyes closed. It usually occurs during or after a long aerobic exercise session. Sensitivity to bright lights is another symptom. No headache and symptoms go away after 10-20 minutes. I believe this would fall into the Migraine Aura category.

[@ohana8535]

My doctor told me they were Ocular Migraines. I would think they could both be classed as Auras.

[@KreeH2023]

I wonder if someone can have both? I see the lighting bolts with both eyes, but I also loose partial vision in one. Most always during intense, long aerobic sessions. What fun!!!

[@3800S1]

I got my first migraine with full blown aura about 18 months ago, blind on my right side of both eyes without being blind if you know what I mean, objects were missing but the background and all else looked normal, no black spots or anything. I got big zigzags that opened up with moving colours scrolling inside them. Then everything went to hyper colours with excruciating throbbing head pain and nausea. I have had them of an off since but to a far less extent, and with different visual symptoms mostly each time. Currently have had the pulsating darkness. Like watching a slow mo video with fluro lights pulsing. I have had quite a few ocular ones too, with black squiggly lines that disappear after an hour. Not always with a headache but usually. I do often get the migraine pain with or without the visual stuff now but the pain is like a sudden stab and often only lasts fractions of a second and are intermittent in nature. Get those in the eyes too. Mine are all triggered by protracted withdrawal syndrome from coming off some antidepressants which includes wayyyyyy worse neurological symptoms than this, like paraesthesia, total loss of feeling in 70% of my body, parkinsons like symptoms, extreme nerve pain, hearing issues, autonomic dysfunction and visual noise and perception distortions not at all associated with migraine. But either way, the first episode of migraine sent me to the ER, 5th time by that stage. Not all migraines are caused or triggered by the usual things, meds, being on or coming off them often can trigger migraines in people who have never had them from what I read.

[@danielledemott5488]

I have chronic uveitis and I have the aura often but I usually don’t get migraine pain after that. But they are super surreal when they happen.

[@faustbos]

I have had either ocular migraine or more probably migraine with Aura for over 10 years now. I believe I found my trigger too. I will see it in both eyes, though its always more pronounced in one or the other. I NEVER experience pain with this which is why it took me so long to figure out what it was. Anyway, I have DME, and what I have found is the problem seems to coincide with either a low blood sugar, or a crash (fast drop). When I start to get one now, I immediately eat something. Without eating they will last no more than 25 minutes. If I eat, it can sometimes stop before it really gets going. I get the jagged lines but float around the eye and increase in size until it begins to dissipate. . about 1% of the time I might see flashing or a spot. Every now and then I notice a loss of peripheral vision. That's not in both eyes, always just one. I also feel "odd", that one is hard to explain. I'm not numb, but I'm not right. Knowing that I'm having a blood sugar episode, I'm not sure if my odd feeling might be more related to that or no. Once I realized these were related to my blood sugar, I find them easier to manage and get them less frequently. I get my eyes treated every 2 months and I'm reviewed by doctors most of those visits. I have mentioned this to them as well but I think I will bring it up again now that I have a couple of actual terms I can use rather than explaining the symptoms. Thanks for this vid. It was clear and to the point!

[@KC73]

Interesting. I have had these after eating a meal tho. Blood sugar wouldn’t be low then.

[@rinpocherags3169]

I had untreatable migraine aura for months. MRI was normal, so it was just chalked up to migraines. Three days later I had a very large stroke. Sometimes assuming migraines as its own condition is dangerous.

[@BlinkinFirefly]

Thank you for this. I've been having the worst aura migraines EVER the past few days. I also have PMDD and have been getting headaches more around the same time in my cycle the past few years. My period is due in a few days, so PMDD symptoms are really amping up at this time. And I foolishly drank coffee two days ago and that did NOT go well, and think it may be contributing to my migraine and auras. I have severe caffeine sensitivity around certain times of the month, and this is definitely one of those times. I also recently moved after a painful breakup, so stress levels are super high. And I'm not getting enough sleep. So this all makes SO much sense why my migraines are so bad right now. I'm getting everything, the blurry vision, black dots, shimmers, flashing lights, struggling to see my computer screen, just everything you're listing. Also, just curious, can eye pressure be caused by the aura as well? It feels like something is squeezing both of my eyes. I need to just take the good advice and walk away from my laptop for a while and lie in a dark room. Thank you again, and I will be making that eye doctor appointment soon.

[@kellyherald1390]

I get the wavy aura with a blind spot but no migraine. It goes away after 15 or so minutes. I've mentioned it to my ophthalmologist and he mentioned the same thing to try to find a common thread to what causes it. Haven't found a common thread yet. Also something to be very aware of is what happened to my mom. One day she started feeling light headed which after a week progressed to dizziness and then she started having vertical double vision. When she finally got it to her ophthalmologist and he determined it was indeed vertical double vision and not horizontal double vision he told her to immediately go see a brain surgeon. She finally did and they found a 1 inch tumor on the base of her brain which is the area involved with balance and vision. She had it removed but it came back aggressively and unfortunately she passed away from this. All of this was in the span of 3 months! So if you have vertical double vision GET IT CHECKED OUT QUICKLY. It is extremely serious.

[@Genesh12]

MY CONDOLENSES ON THE LOSS OF YOUR MOTHER.

[@Elephantine999]

Bright lights can be a trigger for mine.

[@mroldnewbie]

I think that is the most common trigger, and it's a trigger for me too. It's always nasty when the sun is low, I live in the north, so there are periods during the year where I get triggered by the sun. I wear sunglasses and that actually helps.

[@jenjen2868]

I had migraines with aura for years. Which was very scary at first. They started after a surgery. But they went again. I haven't had any in 10+ years.

[@xomikey5725]

i currently have migraine with aura i’m 19 years old almost twenty and have been having them sesne i was 10 what have you done to not have them for 10 years?

[@RG.......]

@@xomikey5725 have you met with a neurologist? Read up on magnesium and Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) supplements

[@alaskabarb8089]

As with many other folks, my auras begin with a visual deficit similar to the kind one has for a few seconds following a camera photo flash. The aura then progresses into an undulating sawtooth pattern, moving widening peripherally; at that point, the central field of vision is visible again, accompanied by some occasional nausea or mild disorientation. In about 15-20 minutes, the peripheral undulating sawtooth pattern subsides. On rare occasions, when my body was under moderate/high stress (hiking/climbing or emotional) I developed hemiplegic migraine, just before the cessation of the aura phase. I thought I was having a stroke, after noticing unilateral partial facial numbness and confusion. I was sedated with Demerol and don’t remember much for about 20 hours. I had some residual problems recognizing written 3s and Es for a few days post-incident, before a complete recovery. In my case, stopping activity, lying down for about 20 minutes until the aura completely resolves, has resulted in no further hemiplegic incidents. A completely different “ocular” symptom is unilateral double vision, or inability one of the affected eye to focus. My ophthalmologist called it an “ocular migraine,” which resulted in temporary macular swelling, for about 12-24 hours. Has anyone else had this problem? Best wishes to other migraneurs. I hope there are effective treatments for you now. ❤️🌈 My generation had ergotamine tartrate, pain meds, and a lot of misery.

[@juliejohnson9740]

I use a technique that I heard from my husband for cluster headache. When having the aura, I hold an ice cube between my thumb and fore and middle finger in the eye I'm having the aura. Hold for about 5 minutes. 9/10 times it takes the headache away. Hope it helps those who need this. It helps me. Peace ❤

[@kaylasmusic]

I get these ocular headaches too and it’s so frustrating

[@stlounsbury]

I get the Zigzag aura in both eyes since I was 16. I’m 64 now. I get them weekly since 16. I take sumatriptan. Also avoid foods that have aged protein (Tyramines ?) and that helps keep them at bay.

[@lgbtrain1]

Migraines with aura started 40 years ago, occurring biweekly. Neurologist prescribed taking 81mg aspirin daily. Migraines stopped by at least 95% over all these years. I still take it daily. When the migraines subsided, l asked how the aspirin actually prevents occurence. His reply "We don't know exactly, but we know its affective with many patients."

[@maki7249]

Jan 1st and 3rd in 2023 had aura I thought was migraine-- but only in one eye, so this explained it. The aura was in the right eye on the right side of it, and I had a terrible muscle ache/cramp or knot in the left shoulder neck area and I associated it with that. Now I know what actually happened as there were no other symptoms beyond the singular ocular aura.

[@KMx108]

I have never been told the difference between ocular migraines and migraine with aura. Ive been diagnosed with both but have never been asked if the visual disturbances happen with one eye or both. For me, Nurtec ODT is absolutely amazing medication for my migranes. Ive found that my episodes reduce when i get methylcobalamin (B12) injections.

[@beckasmith6725]

I started getting migraines when i went on birth control for the first time. I would get the aura/flashing lights, which i described as the test pattern in the old black and white TVs. It usually affected only one eye (for that episode), but i could see with my peripheral vision. If i could get home before the headache started and get into a dark room, it was somewhat better, but once my headache lasted three days, with horrible nausea. I got put on cafergot, but that just made the nausea worse without diminishing the headache. As i got older, the frequency and severity of the headache. Nowadays, if i get a couple aspirin before the aura fully develops, i don't get the headache. Neither Tylenol nor ibuprofen have any effect on the pain, and never have.

[@andreaplatt671]

Never had a migraine headache before but just last year I had my very first aura! I was at work and it scared me! Came out of nowhere! It was the jagged zig zag kaleidoscope but in one eye only and it was off to the side. It subsided within an hour and instead of any other symptoms following, I just felt drained. So weird.

[@darcybrummett7004]

Several years ago, I was seeing halos around lights. I especially noticed it in Christmas lights. (It was December.) I went to my ophthalmologist and was told I had an ocular migraine. While I do get migraines once in a while, there was no headache associated with the halos but it was a little annoying.

[@Banana87887]

Sounds more like astigmatism

[@braaitongs]

I get migraine aura, but I rarely get a headache. Just the flashing lights/shimmering stuff.

[@judyaitken755]

Thank you so much, now I know I have both. My experience is the block out aura, followed by pressure in the temples and behind the eyes...which proceeds to brightly coloured zig zag patterns. Sometimes, I will get the partial block out ike an eraser has scrubbed out, say, half a persons face...occurring first. Then at other times I see a brightly coloured spot that then grows into zig zag patterns. These can occur separately, but do also occur together at times.

[@jbarker2160]

I started having ocular migraines in my treated eye after laser surgery for adult-onset Coat's disease.

[@wednesdayschild3627]

I had this when I was heading toward menopause. I had stopped taking antidepressant. I had no headache. My dad used to get migraine headaches. Flashing and flickering lights started them.

[@Nouglas]

I had the first one of these that I knew of in my late 30s. Was in a meeting at work and feeling very frustrated. I stopped being able to see people's faces and overall I felt off (though that might've been terror at what might be happening). The meeting ended and I went to the washroom and look at my face in the mirror and it was just all jumbled with prismatic lines. Happens mostly in my left eye (but that is also likely because I am very left-eye dominant, it's still pretty much there if I close my left eye). I couldn't read properly and thought I was having a stroke. Then it went away an I got better. Very minute headache persisted for a couple hours. It has since happened four times (I'm 40) all of which occurred on a day when I was hungover and was experiencing some annoyance and/or decision fatigue (driving once, shopping once and once when my dogs were acting up and I was kept from doing what I wanted to do). The last two were way shorter, 15 minutes max of visual disturbances and then feeling 'off' for an hour or two, and then suddenly feeling very good. I've noticed that this happens almost exclusively when I'm dehydrated (hungover and not drinking enough water, or in a meeting for hours not able to drink water), and another thing that affects it is always preceded by me feeling annoyed or kept from doing what I want to be doing. In the meeting, the first one, I was trying to say something for like 25 minutes but the blabbermouths just KEPT ONE NOT SHUTTING UP. Other times, I was reading an email from my boss that severely angered me. The other times I was just getting annoyed by traffic or not finding what I needed while shopping. So, for me what works is: Stop getting annoyed at dumb shit and DRINK MORE WATER.

[@irynakravchenko21]

Thanks for this video, doc! It's very important! But does it mean that I have both conditions if I'm having the symptoms of both? Sometimes it's one eye, sometimes both.

[@LobsterLover530]

It’s the changes in barometric pressure

[@PurpleMeowKitty]

this is good 2 know though like 30 yrs earlier wud have helped!!! lol!!!😅 i used 2 have the aura so badly i couldnt do anything but hide in dark quiet closet!!! it wud start out with a numbness in my finger that slowly moved up til it hit my brain & id get soooo sick from the migraine 4 days my head was pure torture---but then there was the migraine hangover that wud last 4 2-6 more days where if i moved 2 fast/sneezed/cough--id throb!!! those were horrible times & id get them every few months 4 yrs!!! i dont have them anymore but at least i know now what i had!!! tysm 4 putting this out on yt!!! i would have never known!!! 😉

[@SScott-nr9vl]

I have ocular migraines in both eyes simultaneously and I can see it when I close my eyes in both eyes.

[@danidarkheart]

I recently experienced what I believe was an occular migraine. I'd never had one before and it freaked me out! It wasn't until after the flashing zigzag line went away and I was talking to my mom that we figured out what it was. (She's had them before). I'm thankful it was painless and didn't last long but I hope I never have another one!

[@karenchaney8993]

I had the same experience with my mom. I said "why didn't you ever mention it?"

[@DW-ii9ii]

I have had these off and on since I was 12. When one starts to develop, I put my wrap around sunglasses on, take a Tylenol with a 1/4 cup of Pepsi, and sit upright with my eyes closed for about 20 minutes. It usually goes away after that. I don't like them, but have learned what to watch for 😢

[@shannondh83]

I will have to pay attention to my next ocular migraine. I would have sworn that I have it in both eyes at the same time. I don't have a headache with it. However, both of my daughters have history of migraines with severe headaches. I am going to ask them if they have vision changes with them.

[@janetfitzgerald984]

I was recently diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines - after MRI's, CAT scans, lumbar punctures, etc....to rule out stroke. I have always had migraines that were "stroke-like", but now they start with numb/tingle up my right side slowly progessing up through hip, rib, arm, shoulder, neck, head, and then down the left side. I can't stand up when this takes place as I lose that ability. Once that is over, I get the BIG BOOM of a headache.

[@annanorth7997]

Occular migraines without pain started in my mid-50s. I've never been prone to headaches and have no family history of migraines. On occasion it will start with a strong burning sensation in my eyes and nose. Those are scary!

[@phillipbottrell]

Just experienced my 2nd aura, this one ended as a long zig zag pattern that lasted around 30 minutes. No headache but im experiencing a pain now n then around 2 inched behind my left ear. I thought i was having a stroke and called an Ambulance. I will go have a CT scan asap just incase it wasnt an Aura, my heart and pressures all good

[@phillipbottrell]

maybe it was ocular ...

[@xomikey5725]

@@phillipbottrelli also have this exact aura and it last about 40-1 hour and then a very bad headache and nausea

[@KOZMOuvBORG]

Had occular migraine twice. First time occured while waiting for a CT because a half hour earlier, while walking on the sidewalk (sunny) and suddenly, that eye locked to the side while I could still control the other. Regained use of affected (right) eye after about 10 minutes when I entered a senior's kitchen and then got taken to Emerg for the CT (arachnoid cysts were found). With eye closed, looked like a shimmering expanding blue-white-red line. With eye open looking a taxicab, looked much like a shock wave seen in slow-mo footage of explosions.

[@supRsid]

Thanks

[@briangriffin4378]

This may be interesting to some. i used to suffer with this and it never progressed to an actual migraine although I could get a sense of what that would be like just from the lead up. 3 years ago i had a stroke and while I was fortunate to make a good recovery. I've had no recurrence since then. No flashing lights to interrupt my golf swing. No sign of it at all.

[@mdesm2005]

Stress & age is a factor. I'm getting old, and started to get these shimmering lights in both eyes 5 years ago, every 4 months. At first I thought I was going blind. But it lasted 20 minutes. I've lowered my stress levels since then, and the occurrence has gone down.

[@judypine7467]

My optical neurologist prescribed high dose of Vitamin B (riboflavin). It has helped but still see flashing when very tired

[@sofializzy4519]

I've had what I was told was *visual migraines* off & on since I was in my late teens through my mid 30s. I think I have had a couple since my 30s. Mine (from what I remember) seemed to be in both eyes and was a blind spot that looked like static on a TV - I had no headache. It's very disconcerting to lose part of your visual field. They only lasted 15 to 20 minutes. I wish someone had suggested keeping a diary but I was told it was no big deal. No one in my family had history of migraines.

[@freespeechorgetsilenced]

I had this aura when I was a kid. They stopped after I moved away from the toxic people in my life.

[@gamerz000.]

💀

[@carnicavegirl7214]

This started happening to me a few years ago… but my doctors have no idea what they are.. but I had to stop driving because of it.

[@debraparker4846]

I have exactly the same,my first one was when I was 7 years old,my mother also had this type,I'm now 55 and they are nowhere near so severe

[@debraparker4846]

Must add then at 45 years old I was diagnosed with lupus and was asked did I have migraines and what type they were..

[@sarabellaj]

I get zigzag flashing strob light kinda thing on the outside of my line of sight a blurry kinda moving patch that effects the lower and mid line of sight no pain happens every couple months and last 30 mins or so.

[@rquance1]

So I have had both types. Must be something common to cause it. I do have a genetic connection from my Mother and Father with them. No more get the killer migraines but get the beautiful colored lightening in both eyes before the headache tries to start. Have had blindness in the left eye for 10 minutes which came on fast and then faded out. Have had retinal tear in right eye which resulted in floaters. All together I only worry about the blindness because if it happens when driving it is not good. Optimologist has given eyes a clean bill of health since I get checked every year due to now being 70. Thanks for the information. Good Video.

[@toomashawk6379]

I got migraine aura with just fast color changing lines in both eyes after i had PTK done on one eye(2 weeks after PTK and 6 weeks after PTK). Didnt have headache, lasted around 30 minutes both times. Had PTK because of recurrent corneal erosion.

[@radarmusen]

I had retinal migraines, first time it was happen I was scared like hell. I have been MR scanned and there was nothing to see. I do diary when it happens but it difficult to see any common signs. Now I know what to expect when it happens and just wait for it to ride off. Interesting thing when the vision is coming back, is that the color seems to be more powerful rights after.

[@A.S.K.1]

I started getting Migraine Aura (both eyes, but with NO headache or other symptoms) a few of decades back. They started out of the blue - for no apparent reason. A spot right in the centre of my vision, when trying to read... it was like the central letter or two of a word just didn't exist.. the rest of the word/text was fine. Then the really bright, jagged /zigzag - shimmery rainbow (and they were actually arced as well) lines, would start at the left side of my eyes (both of them) and slowly move across my field of vision to the right side of my eyes, and then would disappear. It happened at first only once: then a few times, each year. The it stopped as suddenly as it started. Haven't had it happen in over 20 years. I knew what it was eventually, as I have my eyes tested every year and they are always fine... apart from age related changes. Which sucks; but IIWII.

[@_Julie_Bee]

I was seen by my ophtalmologist and they saw new optic nerve bruising that wasn't there in 2019, previous to getting covid a few times. (I'm since fully disabled with long covid btw) As we looked into my debilitating headaches and signs of idiopathic intracranial hypertension I saw a neurologist who finally validated that the "kaleidoscopes" that I've been seeing since 2010 were not just in my head . They were in both my eyes and obstructed my view at 80% sometimes hours and left me completely out of it. Drained for hours. I'm on topiramate now. Changed my life.

[@squareonedocumentary-mjisi6058]

Can I ask you a question ? Is it possible to go blind forever from this? or get a stroke?

[@eh6454]

Your mention of the word ‘kaleidoscopes’ put me in mind of the visual anomaly I used to have regularly as a child, and sometimes get now. It’s different to my occular migraines (which are shimmering, enlarging C shape in centre of vision), in that it’s like a black kaleidoscope movement framing my field of vision, and I’m interested to know whether this is what you experience, too? I’m sorry you’ve had such a difficult time.

[@aanaperdigao]

Só do you have migraine or intracranial hypertension? Or both? And what caused the hypertension?

[@_Julie_Bee]

@@aanaperdigao both, which will be further investigated more. I got hypertension with long covid. My first occurrence of retinal migraines go back 20 yrs. And regular migraines after discussing with my neurologist, pretty much since my early teens. He's a top expert, being both a neuro psychiatrist, a neurologist but also a surgeon. Being that I have severe cptsd from childhood that most likely is the cause of my migraines, were able to go back and work it from the root.

[@_Julie_Bee]

@@squareonedocumentary-mjisi6058 you could go blind if you didn't get the proper treatment yes. Sadly. Stroke, not. Blind, yes

[@RG.......]

Thanks for sharing Doc - I have the same symptoms with no headache. Went to my Eye doc and he suggested I should get an MRI? Is that really required? I have no other symptoms, but the very thought of going into that MRI machine is making me very anxious and stressed. When exactly is an MRI scan recommended, what are the res flags?

[@ritahall8148]

I have experienced episodes of migraine aura for several years and never considered getting an MRI or seeing a doctor about it. I learned about this condition from a neighbor who described his symptoms to me a few years before I started getting them. They are somewhat more frequent now, occurring at about 1 or 2 month intervals, no pain or headache, just zigzags preceded by blind spots.

[@RG.......]

@@ritahall8148 Are you doing anything to manage the condition? Have you figured out what triggers them?

[@dezw510]

I had my first ocular migraine years ago sitting on my couch watching television. When all of a sudden the vision in my left eye started going wonky and then it was like looking through a kaleidoscope. I instantly panicked and started to cry, it wasnt painful but it was scary to say the least. I hadn't experienced it since until a couple months ago while i was at work which was pretty inconvenient because obviously they can be pretty impairing. They usually last about 20 minutes for me but they almost cause me panic attacks when i get them. I have read that sunglasses can help and i tried that once it did a little.

[@Felicity2121]

My left eye is always affected when I get a migraine, I loose my sight in it. First time it was scary but now I’m ok with it. Luckily I don’t get them often nor headaches.

[@robwarren5744]

I have the Migraine Aura, but you’ve not mentioned Cluster headaches/migraines which I can also suffer for up to 7 days with; although not continuously. I’ve had migraines since a teenager and I’m now 65, they’ve never been resolved. I’ve gone through “a list” of medications with no real resolution. Neurologist have been rather lacking in my case. Rob, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@hyena269]

I get ocular migraines, they started maybe 15 years ago (I'm 44 now.) It's a jagged line of shimmery light, usually closer to the periphery of my vision, and causes a blind spot behind it. It'll last between 5-30 mins and I'll have a moderate headache afterward. I do have lupus and did not realize there was a connection.

[@kathygarnett5115]

I get ocular migraines but never have any pain but am exhausted after it’s gone.

[@cynthiaguarino2016]

I have intractable migraines due to a rare form of encephalitis and meningitis. I also experience ocular migraines in my right eye which is the primary side of my migraines. Interestingly enough I was also diagnosed with low tension glaucoma due to the fact that I have deep cupping both eyes. I have full fields, normal blind spots, and no scotoma's.

[@makmelaf]

I believe I have migraine aura. 99% of the time it starts as soon as I walk into a store. I think it is triggered by the overhead lighting. I get very bad kaleidoscope vision. That's how I would always describe it to people, now I know I'm not crazy. Normally I will quickly leave the store and it goes away. Recently I tried to work through it in a store and I had a seizure. That was scary. After I was helped up and left the store, I felt better.

[@hamhamuniverse]

This happened to me last night as soon as I entered a grocery store. I'm glad I'm not alone. Maybe we need to start wearing sunglasses lol

[@presouz5]

The first time this happened to me was in 2003 and I was at work and I would look up and it looked like I was looking through a pain glass window with raindrops. It freaked me out and it didn’t happen again for another 10 years now, it happens maybe two or three times a year.