Question about “ocular” migraines.

This is my first post to the migraine group. I am 64 and until November 2017 had no experience of migraines at all. I was in a brightly lit rather stuffy room at work and noticed a bright zig-zag line in the corner of one eye. When I looked at people part of their faces seemed a bit darkened, almost as if they were in shadow. The zig-zagging line increased in volume and there was a sort of “rolling” effect. The ocular effect was confined to he corner of the visual field. After about 20 minutes everything went back to normal. I had a very mild headache around the forehead afterwards but it was not bad enough not to warrant taking a paracetamol. Colleagues said that I was having a migraine. To be on the safe side I went to speak to a doctor who confirmed what they said and told me that you could develop migraines at any age.

Over the next 8 or so months I had a similar migraine roughly every month. Sometimes this occured when I was using a mobile phone close to my face to browse the internet. I tend to do this a lot. At other times I would be in a building where there were bright overhead lights. I would describe this period of my like as being a stressful one. But sometimes there was no obvious cause. Always the migraines were in one eye or the other and began with the bright sparkling zig-zag line and lasted for about 15-20 minutes.

Then the migraines stopped for about 8 months or so-until about a month ago. This time however, I had about 3 of them over two days. Then a weeks interval, then 3 more over two days. Then another weeks interval, then 2 more in proximity. As always they lasted from about 15 -20 mins, are in the right eye or the left eye but not both. Sometimes there is a mild headache afterwards, but it doesn’t cause any problems. As I was alarmed at the proximity of the migraines I went to see my GP. He confirmed they were ocular migraines and said as there was no headache, there was no point in taking a course of paracetamol. I googled for ocular migraines and discovered what is termed a “retinal” migraine which I discovered can, rarely, cause permanent loss of vision. Alarmed, I went to see a GP again(a different one) and he , again, seemed unconcerned. He said he could refer me to a neurologist “if you want”; however the appointment is not for six months.

I have a few questions which I would be grateful if anyone could comment on.

Ought the increased frequency of the migraines (eg 3 over 2 days) to give cause for concern? Have others experienced this sort of thing.

Does this sound like a “retinal” migraine or something else. There seems to be a lot of terminology all confusion about “ocular” migraines v “retinal” migraines.

Could these migraines indicate some deeper neurological problem?

Are they sight -threatening (as sone retinal migraines apparently can be “rarely” according to what I have read)?

Any general comments particularly if you have experienced similar.

Apologies for the length of the post!

[Cally01]

Hi there, yeah your description is occular migraine although a lot of people have a few different symptoms. I have visual disturbance in one eye ( always zig zags which eventually take over all of my sight for 20 - 30 mins )

I'm 54 and have had "aura" migraines for 40yrs.

I would definitely follow up with neurology just to have confirmation. I would also like to add though that once my zigzags stop in one eye the opposite eye and temple have horrific pain and wipe me out for 3-4 days.

I wear green tinted sunglasses almost all of the time and have seen a definite reduction in aura migraines.

They can start at anytime but they can also leave just as fast in some cases.

My biggest trigger is sunlight / bright lights and strong smelling fragrance.

Take care x

[Hidden in reply to Cally01]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Do you know if it’s common to have migraine auras like this in close succession, e.g. 2 or more in a day? Previously I had them roughly a month or so apart and then about 8 months with none at all. So I’m not clear on why there has been a change in frequency. Also, do you take any medicines for the auras?

[Cally01 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, yes I've had aura straight after aura up to 3 times before intense pain.

I could go months without an occular migraine then have 4-5 in the space of 2wks.

I'm sure it's connected to hormone fluctuations.

I have Imagrin injections for aura migraines and because it's totally dibilatating pain i follow up with rizatriptan melts. Bed for up to 3 days then a day where i feel like I've gone 12 rounds with mike tyson, absolutely exausted.

My speach and cognitive skills are badly affected too.

I have 100mg Imagrin tablets too.

I get TMJD migraines too.

Aura are by far the worst.

[LMor in reply to Hidden]

Hi....I’m so sorry you are having these. I’ve had them since I was five years old and they are just awful....the worst I had was when I was pregnant. From four months I had one or two auras every single day until I gave birth. A couple of years ago I had a migraine with aura for 13 days in a row and it completely wiped me out. Everyone’s frequency is different...I can go months without one and then bang!! The only thing I’ve found that’s helped tremendously and by accident, is the fact that I’ve been gluten free for two years (due to thyroid disease) and I have found the amount of migraines I get has reduced. Take any hospital appointments offered to you and see who you can. I hope you get some help X

[babs1234]

Migraines come in different shapes and sizes. Mine started a 14 I’m now 66 and they have changed structure so many times I couldn’t count. I have no idea and neither it seems has the Doctor, why suddenly they just change. I have had what you’re describing in the past and used to feel really down but now I wish I had those back as the ones I’m experiencing now are almost daily and have been for 6 years.

[ashy83]

Hi just wondered how you were doing now. I have suffered almost the same symptoms as you. Are you still getting the visual aura symptoms

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

Hi

I’m still getting them. Always the same pattern: a bright zig-zag in one or both eyes which gets larger. They always last 20-25 mins. Often, but not always, triggered by light from a phone, overhead light etc. No headache or the very mildest imaginable headache. Average about once a week at the moment (9days since the last one). Seems to be worse when under stress but not sure about this. I had no migraines until about 2 years ago. How would you describe yours?

[ashy83]

Exactly the same for me apart from I always have had migranes before mostly tied in to hormones but didnt get the zig zag thing. Until april this year Mine are just like you described. I get the same sometimes out of the blue it just appears. I had five in July very little pain and always last about 30 mins. When it happens I take a sumartritain. Have you been back to the doctors. My doctors seem very unconcerned about it. I am seeing a neurologist on Saturday

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

I’m going to the doctors again next time it happens; my GP just said “I agree it’s an ocular migraine- there is no point in taking a course of paracetemol as you are not getting headaches” - not very informative. I would be interested to hear what the neurologist says.

[ashy83 in reply to Hidden]

I will let you know what they say. It is quite scary when it happens but it must be common as my doctor was the same. But like you I am concerned over the frequency of them. I will message you and let you know when I have been

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

Thanks. Hope it’s good news!

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

Hi

Have an ocular migraine as I’m typing this! Did you get any info of interest from the neurologist?

[ashy83 in reply to Hidden]

Hi yes I did. He was not concerned at all and said it is completely normal for them to increase and decrease in numbers. I expressed concern about brain problems and he was very reassuring and said it's highly unlikely anything sinister was going on. He then said I need a preventative measure rather than taking something each time it happens. He has prescribed something to try but I cant remember what it's called as I dropped prescription in at chemist. He gets this a lot and he said everyone worries about the same things and not to worry at all.

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

That’s very good news. I’m probably going to see my GP tomorrow and will see what he says. I have got a neurology appointment too, but this was on the basis that I “could see one if I wanted to” and won’t be for many months as it was marked routine. I’m going to try cutting down on screen time, relaxing and getting plenty of sleep which the previous GP advised. Many thanks for your reply.

[ashy83 in reply to Hidden]

The doctors just do not seem concerned do they! But honestly when I saw the neurologist he asked me what I think is wrong and he was smiling as I listed off all the major things like tumors. He said it is what everybody thinks. I think what we have is much more common than we realise. It is natural that we worry as I still feel uneasy about it all. I really hope you get some preventative treatment if you are anything like me it gets you down and the what ifs can be very tiring. Please keep me posted

[Hidden in reply to ashy83]

Hi

I have just returned from a very uninformative consultation with a GP (not my usual doctor). She simply reiterated that migraines could occur at any age and I should continue to monitor them for a few months- I was given the same instruction several months ago! She said that she could prescribe an antitriptamine (sp) which would treat symptoms once they had started but said this was up to me . I declined as I am really interested in preventing them in the first place. She didn’t comment on my very detailed description of the symptoms, possible triggers, frequency etc., so all in all I have learned very little. I presume that if there were any concerns about tumours etc. they would make an urgent referral. If you have been checked out by a neurologist I think you can be very confident that you haven’t got anything like that, but it does leave the practical problem of the symptoms unresolved. It seems that stress is a major trigger of migraine so I guess avoiding that, getting plenty of sleep and exercise are important. Please update me on any new information that you get and I will do likewise!