Retinal migraine
Overview
Retinal migraines are a type of migraine that affect the eyes. They can cause temporary vision loss in 1 eye and other eye symptoms.
Symptoms
Retinal migraines usually affect 1 eye. They often come on suddenly and symptoms include: vision loss – this usually lasts around 10 to 20 minutes but can sometimes last up to 1 houra blind spot in your visiona headache – you may get this at the same time as the eye symptoms or shortly afterwardsother eye symptoms, such as blurred vision and seeing flashing lights, zigzag patterns or coloured spots or linesfeeling sick or being sick Sometimes you can get the eye symptoms without having a headache.
Causes
Retinal migraines are thought to happen when the blood vessels in your eye suddenly narrow, restricting the blood flow. Things that can cause them include: stresscaffeine and alcoholdehydrationsmokinghigh blood pressurebending overlow blood sugarsome types of hormonal contraception Keeping a record of when you get migraines in a diary can help you work out what might be causing them.
Treatment
Treatment for retinal migraines is not usually needed if you do not have them very often. If you have them frequently, a GP may suggest: trying to avoid things that cause your migraines, such as cutting down on caffeine or alcoholpainkillers likeparacetamoloribuprofenmedicines to stop you feeling sick or being sickmedicines to help prevent migraines, such astopiramateoramitriptylinea few weeks ofacupuncture If these treatments do not help control your migraines, you may be referred to a specialist called a neurologist for more tests and treatment.