Although optical migraines don’t have a specific definition, it is generally believed that an optical migraine includes vision disturbances. Auras can cause severe headaches or mild pain. Aura-type migraines are more common than regular migraines. Common migraines don’t have an aura and may be enervating.
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The vision disturbances last between 5-20 minutes and rarely cause permanent damage to the eyes. Auras can vary from one patient to another, as well as from headache to headache. An aura associated with an optical migraine usually appears before the onset of migraine pain. It can take many forms, including blind spots, flashing lights or bright colours, or zigzagging lines and other geometric patterns.
You may also see “floaters”, which are small objects that appear like they are floating across the eyes in a repetitive fashion. These strange disturbances can also cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, or a feeling like you are in an imbalance. These symptoms can occur in either one or both eyes. If you suffer from optical migraines, the best thing to do is to lie down in dark, quiet rooms with a cool compress on your forehead or eyes.
Treatments
The best treatment for these headaches is to sleep. This will also help eliminate the aura. For those suffering from intense and frequent optical migraines, it is a good idea to consult a doctor for prescription treatments. Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), who wrote “Alice in Wonderland”, is believed to have suffered from optical migraines. It is possible that his captivating aura and pictorial imagination were responsible for the creation of a world with talking flowers, shrinking people, disappearing cats, and shrinking people.
Many doctors refer to the “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome” today when referring to the variety of auras that can occur during a migraine sequence. There are many treatments that can reduce or even eliminate the number of migraines an individual can experience.
