| While many people suffer from traditional migraine | | | | blood supply is reduced to the vision center of the |
| headaches, it is not uncommon for others to | | | | brain. Much like traditional migraines, it is thought |
| suffer from a different type of migraine. | | | | that certain "triggers" exist for ocular migraines. |
| Traditional migraines are characterized by | | | | These include chocolate, stress or anxiety, lack of |
| sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, powerful | | | | sleep, travel and artificial sweeteners. Limiting as |
| head pains and nausea. Another type of migraine | | | | many triggers as possible should help reduce the |
| is harder to diagnose because the symptoms | | | | occurrence of ocular migraines. It has also been |
| characteristic of a traditional migraine are either | | | | theorized that seasonal allergies could contribute |
| not present or less severe. Ocular migraines are | | | | to ocular migraines since the atmospheric changes |
| becoming more common in today's society. These | | | | would be similar to those of someone traveling |
| types of migraines are associated with vision and | | | | cross-country via airplane. |
| the eye more so than the brain. | | | | At the onset of an ocular migraine, it is important |
| Ocular migraines often start with a small blind spot | | | | to not panic. It can be disturbing to go slowly blind |
| in the peripheral vision. Over five to ten minutes, | | | | in one eye over fifteen minutes, but it is |
| the spot gradually increases to encompass the | | | | important to remain calm. Finding a quiet, dark |
| entire peripheral portion of vision. Either complete | | | | area to rest in for thirty minutes is an excellent |
| blindness or object fuzziness often results. Other | | | | way to counteract the disabling effects of an |
| ocular migraine sufferers report a jagged | | | | ocular migraine. Being able to sit in the dark with |
| shimmering light in their peripheral vision that | | | | eyes closed helps to limit some of the nausea and |
| grows and eventually overtakes much of the eye. | | | | inability to focus on objects. Normal headache |
| It is often difficult to focus on objects. Reading in | | | | treatments such as aspirin or Tylenol can be used, |
| particular is very difficult since letters in words | | | | but these are more effective in dealing with the |
| have to be viewed almost individually in order to | | | | headache following the visual disturbance than the |
| be read. The individual might also become | | | | actual visual impairment. By the time the medicine |
| disoriented since they are now primarily seeing | | | | works, the visual impact has ended. Some ocular |
| out of one eye instead of two. A dull, throbbing | | | | migraine sufferers report taking a short nap helps |
| headache normally accompanies an ocular | | | | reduce the fatigued feeling following the visual |
| migraine. The blind spot or fuzziness will normally | | | | disturbance and also reduce the impact of the |
| disappear with twenty to thirty minutes, leaving | | | | headache. |
| the individual fatigued. The individual might also still | | | | If you have experienced visual impairment |
| have some problems reading and focusing on | | | | problems in the recent past, it is a good idea to |
| particular objects since their eyes are adjusting | | | | visit your doctor to make sure these problems |
| again. Individuals normally do not have any sort of | | | | are being caused by ocular migraines and not by |
| light or sound sensitivity, though it is not | | | | strokes or problems with the eye itself. It's also a |
| uncommon for ocular migraine sufferers to be | | | | good idea to log what foods were eaten recently |
| nauseous due to either the temporary blindness | | | | and what activities were taking place when the |
| or the panic of not knowing exactly what is | | | | ocular migraine occurred. This can help identify |
| happening. | | | | triggers and prevent ocular migraines from |
| Many scientists speculate that the causes of | | | | happening as frequently. This is the first step in |
| ocular migraines are similar to those of traditional | | | | being free from ocular migraines. Since there is |
| migraines. A change in blood supply is often | | | | currently no cure for ocular migraines, it is better |
| associated with traditional migraines and it is | | | | to reduce their frequency than try to treat the |
| thought that the area impacted by the blood | | | | symptoms each time they occur. |
| supply change is the only difference between the | | | | Ocular migraines can be scary, but knowing the |
| types of migraines. Traditional migraines are | | | | symptoms and treatments will help reduce the |
| normally generated from the surface area of the | | | | impact they have on your daily life. |
| brain. Ocular migraines are generated when the | | | | |