What is Eye Migraine? What are the symptoms?

Ophthalmic migraine is a disease that is more common in young people and women and causes severe pain and temporary vision problems. Eye migraine, also known as ocular migraine, may be caused by a neurological cause or by personal and environmental factors. Since conditions that can cause eye migraine, such as stress, sleep problems and weather changes, are a part of many people's lives, eye migraine is a health problem that should be taken into consideration. People who have eye migraine problems can make lifestyle changes to prevent their lives from being negatively affected.

eye-migraine

Although the most important symptoms of ocular migraine disease are severe pain and vision problems, it can cause different symptoms that vary from person to person. Treatment is needed because ocular migraine symptoms can significantly affect a person's daily life. Although the focus in the treatment of eye migraine is generally on eliminating the cause, medication may also be preferred to relieve the symptoms. In drug treatment, in addition to medications that relieve symptoms, prophylactic or protective drug therapy can also be applied. The frequency of ocular migraine attacks can be reduced by taking preventive measures in prophylactic drug treatment. “What is eye migraine?” You can read the rest of the article for a more detailed answer to the question.

SUBJECT TITLES

What is ocular migraine?
What causes eye migraine?
Who gets eye migraine?
What are the types of headaches that cause ocular migraine?
What are the differences between ocular migraine and headache?
Eye migraine symptoms
How to diagnose ocular migraine?
How is eye migraine treated?
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What is ocular migraine?

Ophthalmic migraine occurs with eye pain and usually lasts between half an hour and an hour. It is a disorder that causes temporary vision problems. In ocular migraine, temporary vision problems such as flashing, flickering or fluctuating images, light beams, dots or lines may occur along with the headache. Although ocular migraine is not a serious health problem, it can cause significant distressing symptoms in some people, such as blurred vision, double vision, or vision loss. Treatment of ocular migraine is based on eliminating the triggers that cause the symptoms or relieving migraine pain. The cause of the symptoms can be determined by an ophthalmologist or neurologist and appropriate treatment can be applied.

What causes eye migraine?

Although the cause of ocular migraine is not exactly known, it is similar to the general causes of migraine. Chemical imbalances in the brain are the trigger for migraine in the eye. Chemical imbalances can affect communication between nerve cells in the brain, causing changes in the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters. Common causes of eye migraines include:

Stress
Sleep problems
Hormonal changes
Dietary factors (especially low low blood sugar or irregular eating habits)
Environmental factors (such as bright lights or changing weather conditions)
Some drugs or chemicals (such as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco)
Changes in blood flow in the brain (Changes in blood flow to the retina)

Who gets eye migraine?

Ophthalmic migraine can occur at any age, but it is more common in younger people, according to the World Health Organization. Since women are inherently more prone to ocular migraine than men, it is more likely to occur in women. (1) So, who gets ocular migraine? Factors that may answer this question can be listed as follows:

People with normal migraine disorder
People with a family history of migraine
Hormonal changes, especially during menstrual period
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People with migraine triggers such as fatigue, stress and sleep problems
People with eye strain

What are the types of headaches that cause ocular migraine?

Ocular migraine, which occurs with visual disturbances and eye pain, is basically divided into two. Headache types that cause ocular migraine can be classified as follows (1, 3):

Ocular migraine with visual aura: Migraine attacks in this group begin with symptoms known as visual aura. . Auras are temporary neurological symptoms such as light lines, flashes of light or vision loss that occur before a migraine attack. Symptoms usually last between 20 and 30 minutes, and then the headache begins.
Ocular migraine without aura: Eye migraine without aura begins with direct eye pain or discomfort. The migraine headache that starts afterwards is a severe pain that usually occurs on one side and is felt around the eyes and on the forehead.

What are the differences between ocular migraine and headache?

Ophthalmic migraine and headache are actually quite different concepts because visual problems come to the fore in addition to pain in the occurrence of migraine in the eye. When migraine occurs in the eye, the pain is usually unilateral and mostly in the eye, in the parts in front of the eye. Headache can occur in any part of the head or spread throughout the head. Although migraine is an important trigger for headaches, ocular migraines last for half an hour to an hour, while headaches can last longer or shorter.

Eye migraine symptoms

Although eye migraine stands out with visual disturbances and eye pain, it can also cause different symptoms. Symptoms of ocular migraine can be listed as follows:

Aura: Symptoms of ocular migraine usually begin with symptoms called aura. Symptoms of migraine with aura include visual disturbances such as blurred vision, flashes of light, or vision loss.
One-sided headache: An ocular migraine headache is a severe headache that is usually located on one side. and is felt in the eye and forehead.
Eye pain: Ocular migraine causes pain or discomfort in the eye as well as headache. Some people may also experience eye redness or watering.
Sensitivity to light: Eye migraine can cause extreme sensitivity to environmental stimuli such as light, sound and smell.
Other migraine symptoms:Ocular migraine can also cause other classic migraine symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability.

How to diagnose ocular migraine?

The diagnosis of ocular migraine can be made by listening to the symptoms and eliminating other conditions that may cause those symptoms. Doctors may ask you to keep a migraine diary, detailing when the headache and other symptoms started, how long they lasted, and their triggers. To diagnose ocular migraine, the doctor may order the following tests and imaging methods:

Eye examination:The ophthalmologist may perform an examination to check if there is any serious condition in your eye.
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- A complete physical examination: Your doctor may perform a complete physical examination to rule out other factors associated with migraine attacks.
- Neurological tests: Your doctor may perform a complete physical examination to rule out other factors associated with migraine attacks. He or she may order various tests to check your system and evaluate other neurological conditions.
- Imaging methods: Imaging methods, such as an MRI or CT scan, that show the blood flow to your brain and its structural features and the impact of a migraine on the eye helps vision. It can provide information about whether there is a problem with the blood flow to the retina.
How is eye migraine treated?

Although eye migraine treatment varies depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms, it is generally aimed at preventing migraine attacks and relieving symptoms. Common treatment options that can be used for ocular migraine are as follows (2, 4):
- Painkillers: Various painkillers can be used to relieve headache and eye pain caused by ocular migraine. li>
- Triptans: Triptans, which act by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, are used to stop migraine attacks and relieve symptoms. Triptans may come in the form of tablets, nasal sprays, or injections.
- Prophylactic medications: Prophylactic medications such as beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants are prescribed by the doctor to reduce and prevent the frequency of migraine attacks.
- Lifestyle changes: Eliminating or reducing triggering factors in ocular migraine may help reduce symptoms and attacks. These changes include methods such as getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, applying stress-fighting methods such as yoga and massage, and limiting alcohol and caffeine intake.
Ophthalmic migraine treatment may vary depending on the severity and frequency of symptoms and It is possible for each individual to respond to treatment in different ways. Together with your doctor, you can determine which treatment option is best for you.

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Tarih: 22/05/2023