Curious to know if anyone else here has ever had an ocular migraine.

About 2 years ago, I was outside in the bright sunlight and began to experience bright flashes in my right eye (I get right sided CH hits) that were in an arched shape near the middle of my line of vision.  My eyes have always been sensitive to the sunlight but that particular day, the sun was almost blinding.  It scared the poo outta me so I called the eye doc who told me to come into the office immediately.

The flashes gradually made their way to the corner of my eye and disappeared with no after effects.

The same thing happened yesterday afternoon but left me with a headache that is still lingering a bit today...nothing bad, just annoying.

If you have had an ocular migraine, how often do you get them and do you ever experience a headache once the flashes are gone?

I get them about 3 or 4 times a year, Cyndi. starts toward the center of my visual field as a sort of flashing, worm-like, poorly formed circle. Over the course of 30 minutes or so, it gradually expands into a bigger and bigger ring, working its way to the periphery.

Doesn't matter where I focus, or whether my eyes are open or shut, it's still there. They're completely painless for me, and I get no headache during or afterward.

Welcome to the funny kaleidescopic world in which I tread barefoot.  I have Ocular or Ocipital Migraines all the time.  They started about 10 years ago.  I thought I was having a religious experience or something I was talking to a friend and her face started flashing.  It went on for about a half hour and the area that flashed faded out and changed.  Sometimes I have a prism over half of my eye and it has blinded me to the point that I can't drive and have been trapped at home.  The longest one that I have had lasted a couple of hours. When I have this type of migraine I don't have pain, but sometimes it precedes a doozy of a migraine.  Right now I'm coming off a 3 day migraine.  Not fun...

Ree

Ree wrote on Aug 21^st, 2008 at 10:15pm:

Right now I'm coming off a 3 day migraine.

So, was this three-day migraine preceded by any ocular migraine activity?

Are the ocular migraines the same as "silent migraines"?  I've had the latter and they start with a rather liquid motion in the corners of one eye, like sparkling waves of water, and spread to the whole field of vision.  They blind me in one eye for about 1/2 hour.

I've also had a retinal tear ( old(er) age related ) which produced lightening-like flashes in the effected eye.  This can become a medical emergency as it actually tears the retina away from the back cavity of the eye and fluid, and sometimes blood, escapes into the eyeball.

An opthamologist needs to diagnose such eye problems to separate the big problems from the lesser problems.

Oh Cyn...That is so funny that you should say this today.

 My Brother, was telling me he gets these just last night.  I told him I do too.  We compared notes..I've had them for 20 years.  About every 4 months or so.  Normally when I've gone from a dark room into the light.

My Dr. said they were from stress and not to worry.   His Dr. called them ocular Migraines.

  Anyone tells me I have Migraines (of any type)  I tend to tense up a bit!!!!!!!!  LOL

After reading these posts I'm not sure if what I get is "aura" with migraine or ocular migraines. I think the difference is the pain. I get that aura at the first onset of a migraine. Lights start flashing and there is nothing to stop it. There is no pain and vision is limited. About 15 to 30 min. later it stops and the pain of a migraine steps in. This can last for hours although relpax has been able to break it. I think ocular migraine is more just the light sensation. Before Lisa had CH she used to wake with blue lights many morning but no pain. About a year later, the CH began. Someone else posted this topic earlier this year but can't remember who or when.

Charlotte

I've been getting ocular migraines for about 18 years.  My field of vision is distorted by what I refer to as a sparkley lightning bolt.  Some are so bad that I can't see to do anything.  They usually last about a half hour and I have only had one that came with the migraine pain, but until that one time, they have always been painless.

Beth

I get them too.  They last for about 30 mins as well.  I do however sometimes have pain AFTER the vision corrects itself and I feel the need to sleep.  Sometimes I think that they are a precursor to a cycle.

I guess that it must be fairly common for CHers to have other headache disorders too.  We are soooooo lucky!

Jeannie

I get them too. No pain. Occasionally flashing, but usually bizarre floaters. I've had them since the 80s.

Yep, I get them too.  Worse when I take Verap.  If I'm taking it, I have them pretty often.  So, I don't take the crap.  Now I just have them if I get terribly stressed out.  I hate 'em, I hate all headaches.  

Quote:

Anyone tells me I have Migraines (of any type)  I tend to tense up a bit!!!!!!!!  LOL

Hee.he..he ;)


Hoping they go away! Migraines suck.
thebb

Paige_H. wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 2:58pm:

So, I don't take the crap.

Careful. "The crap" has helped a lot of people around here, many of them my friends. No way to know for sure, but it may have prevented one or two from eating their piece.

I have to agree with you, Jean.  I felt tired after both of my ocular migraines.

The nagging headache has finally disappeared, thank goodness.  Felt like a hangover without the benefit of enjoying one drop of alcohol.

Just hope that I don't have any more for a while.  It's hard to read the 'puter with one eye closed while trying to get work done.  What's worse is trying to read electronic medical records full of physicians' handwriting with one eye closed....it's hard enough trying to read their chicken scratch with two good eyes. :D