Question 1

Is there cause to worry if you are having an optical migraine?

Accepted Answer

No, there is no cause for excessive worry, but the visual disturbances can frighten you initially. They can cause retinal damage so I recommend getting your eyes checked as well as seeing your doctor. So, as soon as you notice something out of the ordinary go see your family physician so s/he can diagnose it all properly.

Question 2

What is the cause of the optical migraines?

Accepted Answer

It is believed that the cause is the constriction of the blood vessels. This reduces the blood flow to the eye and can be caused by some foods, just like the triggers for a normal migraine attack. There can be spasms in the blood vessels in the retina too, and changes that spread across the nerve cells. [1]

Question 3

What are some of the foods that are believed to bring on an optical migraine?

Accepted Answer

Some of the foods include: chocolate, shellfish, and nuts. With some people, caffeine and alcohol can trigger the migraine.

Question 4

Are there other causes or triggers that cause the optical migraines?

Accepted Answer

It is felt that fatigue, stress, a woman's menstrual cycle, and even eye strain can also be possible causes.

Question 5

Are there warning signs that present themselves before an optical migraine?

Accepted Answer

The first sign that an optical migraine is starting is the presence of one or more blind spots. These spots usually start in your central vision and get larger.

Question 6

What are the flashes of lights?

Accepted Answer

This is often called scintillations. It typically occurs shortly after the blind spots starts. Flashes of lights, which are often multicolored, can be seen in the vision. This symptom may be caused by a retinal detachment and can indicate a serious medical emergency.

Question 7

What are the zig-zag patterns?

Accepted Answer

During an optical migraine, vision can present itself with a zig-zag pattern. This symptom can look like you are looking through a window that has been cracked or a wavy window.

Question 8

Are there other symptoms with optical migraines?

Accepted Answer

Different people may present in different ways, but some have complained of seeing stars and spots, while others complain of nausea and vomiting.

Question 9

How long does an optical migraine last?

Accepted Answer

Typically the vision loss lasts under five minutes, but has been known to last up to an hour. After the optical migraine is over, the visual disturbances disappear and the sight returns to normal.

Question 10

What is the treatment for an optical migraine?

Accepted Answer

Actually, there is no treatment for this type of migraine symptom. If you are one of the people that have a migraine headache after the optical migraine, taking medication at this time would be a good idea. Having optical migraines disrupts daily activities such as reading, driving or watching television. Although there is no known treatment for these migraines, you should have your eyes examined. An optical migraine does have the potential to cause retinal damage and your eye health is very important. Be wise and get your eyes checked.