Ocular Migraines

[Canadian Barton]

Anyone here ever had such a thing? I'm working away at my computer and all of a sudden I get this zig zag flash or bur, kind of hard to explain. Went for a walk and then went and sat in the dark and it went away. Took about 30 minutes. No headache, just the vision thing. Googled it and seems exactly as described. I think my mom gets them from time to time but I'm 52 and this is the first time ever...

Just weird.

 

[camarochevy1970]

yep, I had a good one a few weeks ago. Started at dinner, realized I was having trouble reading my phone, then got home and it got worse, could barely see out of one eye. Went away after about an hour. I get regular migraines all the time, this was the first ocular, about 5 weeks ago, and I am in my 40's. That said, due to my light sensitivity, it did trigger a regular migraine for me.

 

[unrestored72Z]

Ive had migraines for nearly 50 years.
When i get a migraine, I get the "aura" which is what its called.
I get devastating pain, if not treated with Zomig
Even after treatment, the aura has to work its way through my vision, and yes, even if you shut your eyes, you still have the bright silver flashing lines.
Without Zomig, I likely would have pureed a life of alcohol or drugs.
Mine has been considered the result of an alergy to sodium nitrite " curing salt" which is foind in most orocessed pork products. Havent had a ham sandwich in 40 years...cant go to a pizza joint or eat breakfast in a reataurant.
It dictates my life and never stops being a comcern.

 

[camarochevy1970]

an ocular migraine is different then the aura you get with a migraine

 

[Smokin'Joe]

I'm 55 and have had ocular migraines since I was in Jr. High..., just had one last night. - Fortunately for me, mine are about what the OP described and are mostly visual. Historically mine do not come with pain like unrestored72Z mentioned, though I usually feel a bit off for a day or so afterward. For me, they come out of nowhere. I can be sitting there minding my own business doing nothing, or doing something normal and wham. I have spent years trying to figure out potential triggers, but still can't seem to figure out a what causes them, I believe some have been associated with exposure to pecans, but I still get them even though I am very careful around nuts. There must be multiple triggers, stress, lights, alcohol, food, nuts, etc. Apparently I am one of the lucky ones that get these as mine are basically just a nuisance, but it still sucks. I could go months without one being stressed at work for weeks on end with nothing, or I can be peacefully walking in a park and get one....., The picture I just found on the internet, but it is a pretty good indication about how mine are.

Typically the first evidence for me is I will notice a "sputter" in my field of vision. Mine is on the right side just below the midpoint of my sight and it doesn't matter if your eyes are open, eyes closed, the jagged little neon lines are there in the same area. The lines will continue to hover about that general area, changing colors and shape for about 30-45 minutes and then they just just disappear. I have learned the best thing is as soon as I notice one coming on is to go sit in a dark room and take a nap if possible. Generally by the time I wake up, the neon zigzags are gone, but I will feel slightly off and hungover for the next 24 hours or so.

Although I started getting these in Jr high, they mostly went away between my late teens till my 40's before they came back. Now they are pretty infrequent like one or 2 a year, however, yesterdays was my 3rd one in the past 2 months.

I see adds for treatments, but for me, the treatments seem worse than the migraine. I tried taking Excedrin migraine once , but that just made me nauseated with a migraine. which was way worse than the migraine itself.


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[Gary S]

My Wife and I both get them. She gets a nasty headache along with the flashing in the eyes. I get only the flashing in my eyes and no headache.
When they pop up, I simply sit down 20 minutes and they are gone again.

We get them with weather changes. Whenever a strong low pressure front moves in, they happen.

 

[1978 Z/28]

I get them, mine are brought on by stress, being tired and/or dehydration.
See your doctor, can we caused by medial conditions also.
First my doctor had a MRI done everything good in head, now I have proof I have a full brain. Got to see images of my head, amazing how we are put together and the equipment people have built.
Then I went to eye specialists lots of test on eyes, no problem with them
I am retired now and only get them once in awhile.

 

[1980RS]

I always got the ocular migraines before I had my stents back in Oct. 2013. Since then I have only had one episode of that kind of migraine and I hardly ever get a headache anymore. Something to be aware of.