We have convenient night and weekend hours to fit your busy schedule. Call 6 to schedule an appointment at one of our ten offices. Sometimes referral to a neurologist may also be called for. At North Shore Eye Care all of our board certified ophthalmologists can diagnose migraines. Other ophthalmic conditions such as retinal tears may result in some of the same visual symptoms. It is important to see you primary care doctor as well as your ophthalmologist should you suffer from these symptoms. Several medications that deal directly with the presumed chemical imbalances of migraine are available and include Imitrex, Maxalt, Amerge and Zomig.įrequent serve attacks may also be treated with medication on a preventative basis. Over the counter anti-inflammatories such as aspirin or ibuprofen may reduce the severity of an attack. Treatments for migraines include avoiding known triggers such as foods and environmental factors. In extremely rare cases the visual problems may be due to a stroke that is associated with the migraine. Rarer symptoms include double vision, lid drooping and pupil size changes. The common visual symptoms are a spot of blurring that expands to one side, zigzag lines or shimmering lights, and loss of vision in one eye only. Symptoms of migraine include pounding pain on one side of your head, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, and visual symptoms. Patients who experience migraines will often time have a family history of headaches or prior history of motion sickness. While stress does not cause migraines it may contribute to the frequency of attacks. Many patients also attribute their migraines to stress. Many women suffer with migraines during the same point in their menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes are also frequently associated with migraine thus the increased frequency in women. Certain foods may trigger a migraine attack including aged cheese, nitrates, chocolate, red wine, MSG, caffeine, aspartame (NutraSweet) and alcohol. These changes then result in a decrease in oxygen supply to the brain. During a migraine attaché the serotonin affects blood vessels often times causing them to constrict. It is believed to be an abnormality in the neurotransmitter serotonin. It is not exactly known what causes migraine. This form of migraine may be responsible for the headaches which many people attribute to tension, stress or sinus pain. This is often referred to as an ocular migraine or a migraine variant.Ĭommon migraines may only cause a headache felt on both sides of the head without the accompanying visual symptoms. Sometimes the visual symptoms may occur without the headache. Severe pounding headaches will follow and may be associated with nausea, light sensitivity and vomiting. Usually the visual symptoms expand over a period of time ranging from 10-30 minutes but sometimes much longer. A classic migraine usually may start with visual symptoms- zigzag lines, lightning bolts, kaleidoscope looking images are all common. I now have extremely impaired vision in the eye with the detachment.Migraines are a common neurological condition that is more prevalent in women. I continued to required check ups for 2 years. This also causes the flashes you talk about. The tear was caused tugging and friction on the retina by the vitreous gel. After applying the buckle the surgeon used a laser to cauterise the tear. The retina detached due to a tear, the vitreous gel in my eye got into the tear and peeled the retina up. They tightened a silicone buckle around my eye, this placed pressure on the eye pushing the retina back on. He forwarded me onto an ophthalmologist who confirmed the detachment. I told my optometrist of the veil, who suspected a retinal detachment. The top of your vision is the bottom of your retina.) It took the form of a dark veil descending across my vision (note this is atypical normally the veil ascends due to gravity - remember vision is flipped by your lens.