Eye Migraine: What is It?

An “eye migraine” which is known medically as an ocular or ophthalmic migraine can be a disturbing end even frightening event. Most of the time, when patients think of think of the word “migraine” they immediately assume that it has something to do with a headache-but this may not necessarily be the case. Not infrequently, patients who are otherwise healthy tell us that about once or twice a month they see these strange pulsing images in both eyes-both with their eyes open and closed! Sometimes they tell us that these pulsing images start out small and increase in size, last for 10-20 minutes and even cause their vision to become blurry. These episodes actually describe what we know to be an ocular Migraine-a migraine without a headache! What patients are experiencing is the aura that many sufferers have before the onset of a classic migraine headache. An ocular or ophthalmic migraine often includes zigzag lines, colored lights or flashes of lights expanding to one side of your vision over perhaps 10 to 30 minutes.

If you experience these symptoms, in order to be sure that this is not a sign of a more serious problem, you should consider scheduling an evaluation and eye exam at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham by calling 205-930-0930, visiting Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Google+ or www.facebook.com/michelsonlaservision. Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham is located at UAB-Highlands, 1201 11th Avenue S, Suite 501, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 and staffed by UAB Medicine affiliated ophthalmologists Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D.