Have you ever had an ocular migraine?

[Camperroo]

Just curious...today I had the weirdest episode, I was yakking on the phone and when I looked up across the kitchen I realized my eyesight was doing really weird things (I don't wear glasses at all).  The peripheral vision in my right eye was making everything all kind of wavy and though I could see I felt like there were blind spots, lasted about 10 minutes or so.   Then about 15 minutes after that I got a slight headache but nothing much, didn't even have to take a Tylenol.  Called my doc who had me come in and he checked me out, thought what I experienced was an "ocular" migraine.  I'm going to the opthamalogist tomorrow too just have them check me out.  Now I'm nervous!!  You know how your mind can wander when stuff happens to you that seems unusual.

[MommaMia]

Just curious...today I had the weirdest episode, I was yakking on the phone and when I looked up across the kitchen I realized my eyesight was doing really weird things (I don't wear glasses at all).  The peripheral vision in my right eye was making everything all kind of wavy and though I could see I felt like there were blind spots, lasted about 10 minutes or so.   Then about 15 minutes after that I got a slight headache but nothing much, didn't even have to take a Tylenol.  Called my doc who had me come in and he checked me out, thought what I experienced was an "ocular" migraine.  I'm going to the opthamalogist tomorrow too just have them check me out.  Now I'm nervous!!  You know how your mind can wander when stuff happens to you that seems unusual.

I get migraines occasionally and sometimes am super sensitive to light when I get them, but nothing like what you describe.  However, it does sound like what my step-dad described when one of his retinas spontaneously detached for unknown reasons.  

Let us know what the optho says!

[Joe Buskirk]

I have been getting migraines since I was 18 years old and now I am 49(Birthday today).  When I first started getting them my fingers would go numb and then I would get a an kaleidoscope of lights and then a painful headache over one eye.  I was very sensitive to light and a feeling of nausea.  Over the years the sensitivity to light and nausea have subsided.  I still get the kaleidoscope followed by partial blindness and then a headache.  I may get these 2-3 times a year.  Have been checked out but just migraines. Heredity I attribute it to, my father had them and my mother's sister suffered from these.  I have found that the migraine tylenol works well. I do not think that you have much to worry about other than the nuisance of these coming on unexpectedly.  Many articles on the WEB indicate that nicotine, caffeine, chocolate, cheese and the list goes on, will trigger migraines.

[birol]

I have been told that high blood pressure can play havoc with vision, I am supposed to go to an emergency department if my vision changes drastically, in any way. Did your doctor check your blood pressure ? Just an FYI.

Just curious...today I had the weirdest episode, I was yakking on the phone and when I looked up across the kitchen I realized my eyesight was doing really weird things (I don't wear glasses at all).  The peripheral vision in my right eye was making everything all kind of wavy and though I could see I felt like there were blind spots, lasted about 10 minutes or so.   Then about 15 minutes after that I got a slight headache but nothing much, didn't even have to take a Tylenol.  Called my doc who had me come in and he checked me out, thought what I experienced was an "ocular" migraine.  I'm going to the opthamalogist tomorrow too just have them check me out.  Now I'm nervous!!  You know how your mind can wander when stuff happens to you that seems unusual.

[B-flat]

It can also be caused by a sudden drop in blood sugar and blood pressure which is called hypoglycemia.  As brainpause says, don't take any medical advice from me.   It can also be caused by some food allergies or a combination of blood sugar, blood pressure, and food allergies.

[OC Campers]

I get them quite often.  My eye sight is poor and I think mine is caused by eye strain.  Doctor couldn't find a medical reason for them.
 
At first I see a bolt of lightening in my vision, then it goes completely blury.  Once the eyes focus again, WHAM!!  major migraine.  Evey once in a while I get caught with one while not at home and boy it is tuff.  I just have to sit in the car and wait till my vision clears enough to drive.
 
Jacqui

[HersheyGirl]

I got one when I was in my late 20's.  I had a cold and my nose was all stopped up and I blew it.  Lost most of my vision in my left eye and had very little peripheral vision in it.  Went to the Dr and had many vision tests.  It was an occular migraine and all vision was restored in a few months.  I am very careful about blowing my nose now.  I have not had any more problems since.

[NightOwl]

migraines often result from changes in the pressure of the blood vessels in the brain and we learned the hard way that they dont  cause the same symptoms in everyone.  When our YDD was in grad school in Cal, she began having odd dizzy spells with visual distortion.  This went on, despite attempts by various doctors to get at the cause, until one day she was walking down the street in Berkley and was struck suddenly by such powerful  vertigo that she collapsed on the  sidewalk and then CRAWLED into a store close by where the owner called 911.

Finally, a neurologist at USF hospital, after all kinds of brain scans, EEG's, etc. concluded that she was having "migranous episodes."  (i.e. migraines, but without the "headache" part of it.)  Her father and I were total wrecks while this was going on--her symptoms were so bizarre that we feared something like brain tumor.  But once we all knew what was the cause, we were able to relax a bit about it.  Gradually the symptoms faded and now, as an adult, she gets an occasional migraine but they are not nearly as severe as those most people are struck with, from what we hear.  Ibuprofin handles them just fine if she gets them early on.

Like others have mentioned here, there's a family history of this kind of thing: my MIL had migraines,  and DH as a young man also suffered somewhat  similar episodes and still, sometimes, experiences headache and  visual distortion accompanied by whirling lights.
Please let us know how you are getting along.  Furtunately, diagnostic techniques are constantly improving and new migraine medications are being developed.

[DBGCAMP]

I have this happen every once in a while too - I get these little squiggly lines in my vision that are kind of sparkly (for lack of a better word) and there will be a blind spot where the squiggly things are.  I work in a nursing home and asked our medical director about it - he said they are ocular migraines.  He told me that many times they are a sign of a migraine headache coming on.  I have never actually had a headache related to one of these episodes.  He told me they were really nothing to be overly concerned about - they will disappear as abruptly as they started.  I have since had my eyes checked, and I have nothing wrong with them  other than a very slight farsightedness.  

I am sure it wouldn't hurt to see the ophthalmologist, but I wouldn't get too concerned yet.  Good Luck!

[MommaMia]

migraines often result from changes in the pressure of the blood vessels in the brain and we learned the hard way that they dont  cause the same symptoms in everyone.  When our YDD was in grad school in Cal, she began having odd dizzy spells with visual distortion.  This went on, despite attempts by various doctors to get at the cause, until one day she was walking down the street in Berkley and was struck suddenly by such powerful  vertigo that she collapsed on the  sidewalk and then CRAWLED into a store close by where the owner called 911.

Finally, a neurologist at USF hospital, after all kinds of brain scans, EEG's, etc. concluded that she was having "migranous episodes."  (i.e. migraines, but without the "headache" part of it.)  Her father and I were total wrecks while this was going on--her symptoms were so bizarre that we feared something like brain tumor.  But once we all knew what was the cause, we were able to relax a bit about it.  Gradually the symptoms faded and now, as an adult, she gets an occasional migraine but they are not nearly as severe as those most people are struck with, from what we hear.  Ibuprofin handles them just fine if she gets them early on.

Like others have mentioned here, there's a family history of this kind of thing: my MIL had migraines,  and DH as a young man also suffered somewhat  similar episodes and still, sometimes, experiences headache and  visual distortion accompanied by whirling lights.
Please let us know how you are getting along.  Furtunately, diagnostic techniques are constantly improving and new migraine medications are being developed.

Has Menier's Disease ever been mentioned?  It usually includes hearing loss and tinitus after the episodes but not always.

[NightOwl]

Has Menier's Disease ever been mentioned?  It usually includes hearing loss and tinitus after the episodes but not always.

Cindy, as a matter of fact, they ruled out Meniere's disease right away in Alice's case--she had no other  symptoms of that and the docs said her verttigo did not resemble what they'd expect with Meniere's (thank goodness!  an uncle had it and it was hell for him and his whole family.)

But you are right--it's always good to keep in mind that a lot of conditions can contribute to vertigo.  My DH insists that some of us are dizzy most of the time anyhow    )

[Camperroo]

Thanks everyone, you make me feel much more reassured.  I went to the opthamalogist today for my first ever real eye exam!!  My dad has macular degeneration so I was a bit scared thinking I was heading that way.  Wow they put lots of drops in your eyes.  The glaucoma test made me nervous but I didn't feel anything.  They had to put drops in my eyes 3 more times to really dilate them!  It was really unsettling to not be able to see anything close up to me for several hours!  The happy news is the doctor said I have perfect vision at age 42 YEA!!!!!   She said my eye pressure was completely normal and everything else in my eyes was very healthy looking.  My doc did check my blood pressure and I know the top number was 110 but I didn't see the bottom when I peeked yesterday.  I didn't get the sed rate back today though.  The opth. said she felt I experienced a "classic ocular migraine"  I had the shimmery wavy peripheral vision with a sense of pressure and visual disturbances.  I did not get a headache till I woke up this morning and I had it all day, but it was one of those annoying headaches that is kind of there and then comes and goes, but I felt a tad bit nauseous, enough to bring a bottle of ginger ale to work today to sip on.  She said not all people get the real bad headache some just get the visual disturbances I described.  She also mentioned some folks get a feeling of numbness or tingling around the mouth, just in case any of you have ever experienced it.   She was very kind in reassuring me that yes the symptoms are scary and unsettling but next time if I'm in a spot where I can rest, to lie down with my head supported with a pillow and apply one of those ice gel packs wrapped in a towel to the back of my neck and close my eyes and also take some Ibuprofen or Tylenol to help head it off at the first sign.  

Hope I don't get one back anytime soon, it was a weird and scary thing, thought my eyes were going to explode and I'd go blind or something!!  I'm telling you since I've hit the 40's I've had the weirdest little medical episodes...I've got to join a gym and toughen myself up a bit!!!  Or at least go enjoy the hot tub!!!!

I feel badly for anyone who gets those really vicious headaches from migraines, it's got to be so awful.  The scary vision and weird headache were enough for me!!

[Steve-o-bud]

My father in law has Macular Degeneration (MD), and it came on very suddenly, following a serious bout with the flu.

He used to get what he described as "cluster headaches" which were real severe, migrane like, only on his left side. His left eye would get tearfull, and would feel like it would pop out. However, he didn't have any of the visual disturbances, etc. that you describe. Nor the tingling or numbness.

In any case, I would trust your opthamologist, but, given your family history and severity of the disease, I would still urge you to get a second opinion from an opthamologist who specializes in Macular Degeneration (MD). My father in law has been told by his eye doctor that MD can be passed along, so my wife now gets tested for it on an annual basis.

Not meaning to be alarmist, but, better safe than sorry.

[jaycocamprs]

Camperroo, I have had these on and off for the last four years.  Usually, no headache at all.  When I was first diagnosed by my eye doctor, he told me that it wasn't anything to be concerned about and to take a baby aspirin daily but I don't.  They usually don't last long but, they are aggravating!  My eyesight is pretty bad and I use a computer all the time so I just figured it was eye strain causing them.

[LoadedCamera]

I've been suffering from Migraines 2-3 times a week for the last couple of years.  Before that, it was 2 times  a year since I was a young pup...

They don't have a cause for them.  I take 25mg Imitrex each time they come on and it sometimes gives it a break, other times, it just has to run it's course.  The worse ones last about 2-3 days, but most of the time, they are gone in 8 - 10 hours.
 
I haven't experienced an "ocular migraine" before.  Sounds like I don't want to either.
 
I hope you don't experience any more migraines of any type.  I wouldn't wish it on my worst friend.
 
Good luck,
 
Byron