ocular migraines

[workshy]

can levothyroxine cause ocular migraines ??

[Lindabennie1951]

Hi, I to have left ocular migraine .

I haven't looked at it from Levi prospective though. Excuse pun.

I think mine is due to muscular damage or vein narrowing in eye but I don't really know. I was thinking of asking gp to ask a neurologist to take a look.

Sorry you're in pain.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

workshy,

I had a small series of them over a few months. Then no more. From this distance in time, I really don't remember the exact dose I was on. But I was certainly on levothyroxine before, during and after! Possible had an increment about that time - really not sure.

[spongecat]

I used to get these "colourful zig-zag visuals" several times a week before I was diagnosed hypothyroid. Now I'm pretty much optimally medicated I haven't had one for a really long time. Had an eye exam and they couldn't find anything wrong with the retina etc.

[Hidden]

Ocular migraines are caused by a sudden constriction of blood vessels which reduces blood flow to the eye, resulting in the (usually) temporary loss of vision in one eye. I don't know about hypothyroidism, but ocular migraines can be more common with lupus, epilepsy, depression for instance. As I understand it though, the term is often mistakenly used for migraines with aura/flashing lights, which I get - its like looking through a kaleidescope - but the difference is that an ocular migraine affects only one eye whilst a migraine with aura affects both.

[Geriboo29]

Wow. I’ve been getting these for years. Before thyroid problem diagnosed.

I remember Doc told me I was lucky that was all I was suffering.

[Duffy26]

Ive had these for 12 years on and off...zig zag loss of vision for half hour followed by mild headache . Cannot see properly. I have many symptoms of hypothyroidsim but cannot get diagnosed by GP as Tsh in range!..GP just said they were due to hormones and had no further explaination. I was petrified the first time ot happened as i thought i might have been having a stroke whilst pregnant!!

[workshy]

ive been taking levothyroxine for just over a year now the doc put my dosage up to 100mg and ever since then I have suffered just the kaleidoscope vision with a foggy head ive lowered my dose and it has stopped need to speak to the doc I think !!

[SilverAvocado]

I've been having these for a couple of months. A crescent of glittery blur for about half an hour. Usually after exertion. Sometimes feel very tired and nauseous after, sometimes not.

But I take NDT.

[SilverAvocado in reply to SilverAvocado]

Edit not working... I'd wondered if mine is to do with being over medicated, as it's happened while I'm increasing dose.

[DeeD123]

I had them on a regular basis when under medicated. On 50 microgram then 150 now. Not had one for around 3 years now fingers crossed 🤞

[DeeD123 in reply to DeeD123]

On levo

[phirestar]

I think so. I’m in the US and a small part of my story. Dx’d 65 and put on mylan levo. Within 3 days first reaction in eyes. I thought I’d scratched my cornea bc I couldn’t wear contacts (had since 10). I continued to have eye problems (among a host of other first reactions) for the next year. Was put on synthroid after 8 months and still had eye issues. I had sporadic ocular migraines in both eyes since I started these two meds along with not being able to wear contacts. Eyes hurt, vision fluctuations, headaches, blurred vision -you name it I had it. I also had 2 retinal migraines where I went blind in one eye for 3-5 minuets. After a year I was put on Tirosint and for the last year all the awful eye stuff has stopped along w all the other reactions. I should mention that I’m an outlier, asymptomatic, and have some interesting genes supporting some of my thyroid med reactions. Thyroid meds were the only thing I was taking.

[JaniceJ7]

I get the kaleidoscope flashing in both eyes. It only lasts about 30-40 mins. I stopped taking caffeine and I very rarely get it now. I used to take Levothyroxine but now I'm on NDT. My sister takes Levothyroxine and also suffers from it. My eldest son has no thyroid problems (yet) and also gets migraines with aura.

[LAHs]

Fascinating question. I wonder if it is an early symptom of Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)? I have ocular migraines very occasionally but cannot say if they increased after starting either Levo or NDT. I once had one in an eye specialist's office and asked him if he knew what caused them. I was so excited that one had occurred in the perfect place at the perfect time. The doc said that he also had them and didn't know what caused them! Oh well, I expect that is the closest I will ever come to an answer.

[workshy]

thankyou for all your replies this is more common than I expected !!