What is Visual Migraine?
Migraine is thought to occur when dilation and constriction of the arteries in the head lead to an extremely painful headache. Visual migraine, on the other hand, is a condition believed to be of the same cause as of migraine but instead of the spasm affecting the surface of the brain, it affects the ocular blood supply resulting to vasospasm, a spasm of arteries behind the eye, which shuts off blood flow to the optic nerve.
Visual migraine is like a temporary loss of vision associated with bright flashing lights and jagged geometric lines. It is not a blacking out of vision or a total blindness. Sometimes, a person experiencing visual migraine may think that he/she is hallucinating. A visual hallucination is actually a visual perception that does not involve the external stimuli. Thus, the person's frequent jagged geometric auras qualify as visual hallucination. However, it is important to understand that having visual hallucination in connection with visual migraine doesn't mean the person is getting insane, which is a common misinterpretation.
More often than not, visual disturbance in visual migraine usually starts in the peripheral vision consisting of almost circular, jagged, shimmering spot which enlarges and moves to the center area which usually obscure the vision. The light is described to be of pale pastel shade. This episode disappears after 15-20 minutes and a mild headache may or may not occur. many people experiencing this condition often complain of tiredness and mood changes.
Symptoms & Causes
Although there is no known causes of migraine, it is believe that stress can trigger migraine. The “weekend” headache usually follows the stress relief of a frenetic week during which the blood vessels in the head relax and constrict. Eye-related headaches occur after extended periods of reading, watching television, computer work, or anything that requires intense concentration. A tendency for the eyes to cross or drift outward may also bring on headaches, as well as eyestrain related to wearing of eyeglasses. However, symptoms from headaches can be extremely variable and may be dependent on the underlying problem. It is important to remember that this conditon is a nuerological problem, not an eye problem.
Triggers
Any stimulus that produces a reaction is called a Trigger. Many things can trigger a migraine attack such as: alcohol (eg. red wine)
caffeine (coffee, chocolate)
monosodium glutamate ( MSG usually found in asian foods)
nitrates (processed foods, hotdogs)
environmental factors (weather, altitude, time zone changes)
exposure to light (brightness, glare)
hormonal changes (in women)
hunger
lack of sleep
anxiety
stress
medications (over-the-counter and prescription)
perfumes
Treatment and Remedies
Usually, this condition resolves even without treatment and many people never have another episode. Some people may continue to have them. An examination of the eye is important to rule out any other causes for these symptoms.
In very rare situations that these symptoms continue to recur on a regular basis and interfere with one's quality of life, then treatment is available with pills that both decrease the frequency of attacks as well its severity. Treatment usually begins upon consultation with an family physician or neurologist.
There are several over-the-counter and prescription medicines that can provide migraine remedies or aid in relieving symptoms of attacks when they happen. For most people, treatments to relieve stress prove to be equally helpful as migraine remedies. Always remember to consult your physicians for proper diagnosis of your condition before taking any medication.
