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Ocular migraine: What causes it and how is it diagnosed ?

Ocular migraine or retinal migraine is an eye condition. It causes temporary loss of vision in one eye or visual problems like blurry vision and flashing lights. Although these temporary visual disturbances can be alarming, in most cases they are harmless and the symptoms usually disappear on their own after around 20-30 mins. Most people don’t need any treatment. However, if you have any concerns, visit an eye hospital near you. 

Ocular migraine

Want to know more on ocular migraine? 

Check this read where we discuss ocular migraine in a detailed manner: 

 

  • Causes of ocular migraine:

 

When the blood vessels to the eye suddenly narrow, the blood flow to the eye is reduced which causes ocular migraine. Here are a few triggers that can cause the condition:

  • High blood pressure 
  • A family history of migraines
  • Stress 
  • Low blood sugar
  • Dehydration
  • Excessive heat 
  • Oral contraceptive pill 
  • High altitude 

 

  • Signs and symptoms:

 

An ocular migraine does not affect everyone in the same way. As a result, the signs and symptoms vary from person to person. The following are some of the most common ones:

  • Partial or total loss of vision in one eye – this can last anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes. And then the vision gradually returns to normal. 
  • Headache during or after vision less 

In most cases, the same eye is affected every time. 

 

  • Diagnosis and treatment:

 

An eye doctor will examine your eyes and will ask you a few questions related to your symptoms to rule out other conditions that could cause similar problems, such as:

  • Blockage in the artery that leads to the eye
  • Spasms in the artery that carries blood to the retina 
  •  Inflammation in blood vessels
  • Stroke 
  • Blood vessel disorders related to autoimmune diseases
  • Drug abuse

Once diagnosed, your eye doctor will give you medical advice. Normally, treatment isn’t required for ocular migraines as symptoms usually go away on their own after sometime. However, when the attacks happen, we would recommend you to rest your eyes until the symptoms pass. Your doctor may advise you to take painkillers to get relief from headaches. If you are worried about the frequency of the attacks, consult your eye doctor. 

Looking for an eye hospital in Kolkata? 

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals – we provide the best eye care services at affordable costs. We offer the latest technology in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of eye diseases including glaucoma, cataract and diabetic retinopathy. 

 

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The First Signals of Ocular Migraine

Have you been experiencing temporary loss of vision or temporary blindness in one eye? In case you are, then chances are that you might be suffering from an ocular migraine. Ocular migraine must not be confused with other types of migraine; although regular migraine, along with recurring headaches could affect your vision, that would involve flashing light sensations and blind spots.

The first signals of ocular migraine

How could this condition be described and what are the determining factors?

To put it plainly, ocular migraine is a type of migraine that causes visual disturbances. Unlike other types of migraine, ocular migraine may not cause any pain but it may typically create a blind spot in your field of vision.

The causes of this condition are not known. However, a family history of migraines could multiply its chances. Excess estrogen in the body and changes in the nerve cells of the retina are two of the many risks that could lead to an ocular migraine. Spasms in the blood vessels of the retina are believed to increase the possibility of this condition.

Symptoms

Everyone does not experience ocular migraine in the same way. As such, the symptoms of migraine can differ from person to person. Below are some of the most common symptoms:

  • A blind spot that gradually moves around the visual field
  • A coloured ring of zigzag shape that surrounds the blind spot
  • A blind spot on the centre of vision that flickers every minute
  • Persistent headaches that could last from 4 hours to 72 hours
  • Sensitivity to light and sound
  • A feeling of nausea
  • Impaired smell, taste, and touch
  • Tingling sensation and/or numbness in the face or hands

Some of these symptoms, such as the perception of flashing lights and zigzag shapes, can either affect both the eyes or just one eye. If you detect any of the above symptoms, make sure to consult an eye doctor soon. You could get your eyes diagnosed by one of our best eye specialists in Kolkata at Disha Eye Hospitals. To know more about our hospitals, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/.

List of triggers

Triggers could prompt the onset of an ocular migraine. Similar to symptoms, triggers of an ocular migraine can vary from person to person. Below is a list of triggers of an ocular migraine:

  • Bright lights
  • Specific tastes
  • Strong odours
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Increased caffeine intake
  • Withdrawal from caffeine
  • Increased alcohol intake/binge drinking
  • Food items containing tyramine (fava beans, soy beans, sausages, and aged cheese)
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Sudden changes in weather

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At Disha Eye Hospitals, we make sure our patients receive the best care at budget-friendly rates. With advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures, our eye doctors are an assurance of the high-quality eye care that we provide. As one of the top eye hospitals in West Bengal, we offer treatment for Cataract, Glaucoma and other eye conditions. To enquire about the expenses of LASIK eye surgery, get in touch with us at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.