Do you experience temporary visual disturbance due to flashing lights or blind spots which occurs together with a headache or after it? You may be suffering from what’s called an ocular migraine. Keep on reading to know some of the most important thing about it that you should know, like the causes, symptoms and treatment.

Repost this article afterwards as some of your family members and friends may also be experiencing it but do not really know what’s happening.

Causes

If truth be told, experts do not really know why ocular migraines happen. However, some of them feel that it is brought about by the spasming of blood vessels supplying oxygenated blood to the retina. Others believe that it is due to changes that affect the optic nerves that transmit information from the retina to the brain. Then some doctors say that it is related to hormonal changes.

Some studies indicate that ocular migraines tend to run in families. If you have it, then it’s not unlikely for some of your relatives to experience it, too.

Certain things may cause ocular migraines to strike, according to individuals who complain about them. Bright light, loud sounds and even strong odors are some of them. There are people who say that they encounter ocular migraines after consuming processed foods or those that contain monosodium glutamate or MSG. Artificial sweeteners and caffeine are commonly blamed as well.

You may also have a bout of ocular migraine if you are stressed or suffering from anxiety.

Symptoms

Just like what the name says, an ocular migraine strikes during or after a migraine attack, meaning it can be accompanied by a pounding or throbbing kind of headache. It’s not unlikely for nausea and vomiting to come with an ocular migraine.

However, it’s also possible for an ocular migraine to strike without an accompanying migraine.

You can tell that what you are having is an ocular migraine if there is a disturbance in your vision brought about by flashing lights. Sometimes they come in the shape of zigzag lines, while other times they may appear as stars. Some people report that they see psychedelic images.

The presence of those lights can certainly keep you from seeing properly. For about 30 minutes, you may have to momentarily stop reading, watching TV or driving.

It may seem as though that the lights are affecting only one eye. However, it really involves both eyes. All you have to do is close one eye at a time to see that both peepers of yours are affected. Eye experts say that visual disturbance in one eye only is likely to be a different matter altogether, so it’s a good idea to pay an eye specialist a visit right away.

Treatment

Usually, an ocular migraine goes away on its own in 30 minutes. Most of the time, it’s enough that you give your eyes some rest. It can also help if you reduce external stimuli, such as by closing your eyes or staying in a dimly-lit room. It may also help if you massage your scalp or place a damp towel across your forehead.

You may take your preferred painkilling drug if your ocular migraine is accompanied by a migraine attack.

It’s also possible for a doctor to also prescribe other medications for dealing with ocular migraines. Some of them include beta blockers that help relax the blood vessels and calcium channel blockers to keep the blood vessels from tightening.

There are cases in which drugs for epilepsy and depression are recommended to individuals who commonly complain about ocular migraines.