Ocular Migraine – Recognize the Symptoms and Triggers Before it Affects You

Migraine is generally associated with headache that becomes almost chronic in nature and can occur without any warning signs. Ocular migraines are also known as eye migraines, with visual disturbance usually lasting less than an hour before dissipating. A mild headache may or may not follow the disturbance. It is believed that the cause of ocular migraines is a change in the blood flow of the brain, and a number of things may trigger them.

Ocular migraines are usually accompanied by abnormal visual sensations like blurring of vision headache and eyestrain headache. They are often observed in people with a history of classic migraines.

Often, no pain is associated with ocular migraines. Many sufferers experience only fatigue after the visual disturbance. However, for some, it is often accompanied by vomiting, nausea and double vision followed by a migraine. A migraine aura involving your vision usually affect both eyes, and you may experience missing areas of vision, flashing lights, zigzagging patterns or shimmering spots and become very sensitive to any light. Sometimes, only one eye is involved, and the symptoms usually disappear after approximately half an hour. These symptoms can temporarily interfere with your reading or driving but the condition is not considered serious.

Possible ocular migraine triggers are tiredness, especially after extended periods of reading, watching television, computer work, or other work that requires intense focus. This type of headache usually disappears after a period of rest.

Stress, hunger, birth control pills, changes in the menstrual cycle of women and nerve weakness are also believed to be associated with ocular migraines.

Foods and additives that may trigger or aggravate migraine attacks include caffeine, chocolate, dairy, aged cheeses, rich meat, alcohol, food with monosodium glutamate, stored meat or meat that contains nitrate preservatives.

You can control ocular migraines by taking the proper diet and by also managing your stress levels. Since it may not be possible to totally prevent its onset, being familiar with the symptoms and triggers assists you in early diagnosis and to take immediate action to manage it once it sets in.