Symptoms of Ocular Migraine
The most important part when suffering from any kind of illness is to be aware of your symptoms. Symptoms not only help doctors to make a proper diagnosis, but also tell the doctor about the severity. When suffering from ocular migraine the patient should notice how frequent is migraine and vision loss. (3)
Headache
Ocular migraine can be experienced with or without headache. Generally ocular migraine is not painful, but 3.2% of people experience ocular migraine accompanied with a headache. Ocular migraine makes it difficult for patients to see things properly due to the aura, which increases the pressure on the eyes resulting in inflammation of arteries and veins. This inflammation exerts pressure on the surrounding tissue and muscles resulting in headache. People also experience headaches after the aura disappears.
Mood swings
Mood swings are a very common part of ocular migraine. People with ocular migraine start experiencing sudden and frequent changes in emotions many days before the ocular migraine happens. When such a mood swing happens before migraine it is called prodromal and when a mood swing happens after the ocular migraine it is called postdrome. People suffering from ocular migraine are more likely to be under frequent stress or depression, which ultimately gives rise to mood swings and behavioral changes.
Yawning and dizziness
People suffering from ocular migraine also complain about increased yawning before the ocular migraine. Since yawning is an early indication of ocular migraine the patient can make future preparations to deal with the ocular migraine once it starts. Although the true relation between yawning and ocular migraine is still unknown, research has proved increased yawing in people suffering from ocular migraine. People with ocular migraines also feel tired and dizzy during migraines which might result from difficulty viewing things.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are the most common symptoms of ocular migraine. Nearly 70% of people suffer from vomiting and 90% suffer from nausea while experiencing migraine. A possible explanation can be the rise and falls in the serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in trigeminal nerves as well as in the gut. Any fluctuation can lead to ocular migraine with nausea and vomiting symptoms.
Vision loss
One of the prime symptoms of ocular migraine is partial or complete vision loss. Although this vision loss is for a very short period of time, it can be very disturbing. Due to the lack of blood supply and vasoconstriction the blood does not reach the retina. This lack of blood disturbs the functioning of the retina, resulting in vision loss. 50% of people with ocular migraine complain about complete vision loss in one eye, whereas 20% of people complain about blurred vision.
Aphasia
Aphasia is the difficulty while speaking. Ocular migraine disrupts the motor functioning of the body. The right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for speech and cognition. People suffering from ocular migraine experience a minor right hemisphere dysfunction, which results in confusion and mumbled speech.
Photophobia
Photophobia or light sensitivity is another most common symptom among people with migraine. Photophobia is the condition in which the eyes become sensitive to bright and fluorescent lights. During photophobia the cells in our eyes become hypersensitive to light and start signaling the brain haphazardly. Photophobia is not only the symptom, but in many cases it can activate ocular migraine attacks. People with ocular migraine are at an increased risk of developing photophobia.
Phono-phobia
Phono-phobia is another symptom of ocular migraine. It is also termed as sound sensitivity. During phono-phobia the person becomes sensitive to loud noise. 81% of people suffering from ocular migraine suffer from phono-phobia. A possible explanation to justify this sound sensitivity can be the increased pressure exerted on the ear due to the inflammation caused in vein and arteries, around the temples and eyes can make ear cells more sensitive making a person sensitive to sound.
Vertigo
People suffering from migraine often suffer from vertigo. Vertigo is the situation in which the surrounding environment feels to be moving or rotating, making it hard for the patient to maintain balance. The inner part of the ear is responsible for informing the brain about balance. Oftentimes, due to the inflammation or vasospasm in the inner vestibular artery the signals that reach the brain are disrupted causing vertigo.
Numbness
People also complain about numbing sensation when suffering from migraine. Numbing is caused due to the damage in the nervous system. People suffering from migraine with aura usually feel numbness in their hands. Sometimes, due to the increased pressure in the peripheral nervous system, the sensory system gets damaged due to which the body isn’t able to transfer signals from body to brain which give rise to the numbness.
Blind spots
It is one of the visual symptoms. A blind-spot is a dark, blurry and fuzzy spot on the optic nerve. This symptom starts as a very small blind-spot which gradually grows with time. Often times, this blind-spot is flickering and crescent shaped, which is torturing for some people. The blind-spot varies from person to person. Some people experience zigzag color spots, others experience a kaleidoscope pattern etc. Nearly 7% of people experience dimming and 13% of people suffer from scotoma.
Tinnitus
People suffering from migraine are more vulnerable to tinnitus. Tinnitus is an ear disorder where people experience a ringing in the ears. The inner part of the ear such as cochlea is responsible for hearing. Due to the disturbance and inflammation in the nerves, the bones oscillate generating tinnitus sounds.
Paresthesia
Paresthesia or tingling sensation is also felt by people suffering from ocular migraine. It happens because the nervous system starts giving unnecessary signals due to extreme pressure on the brain. This feeling is mostly mobile and moves from one part to the other.
Anxiety
The brain cells are hyperactive during ocular migraine which results in release of excessive serotonin. This rise in serotonin makes the patient emotionally unstable and the person starts experiencing anxiety and stress.
Ocular migraine during pregnancy
Ocular migraine is generally found more among women than in men. Ocular migraine increases during pregnancy. About 15-20% women experience ocular migraine during their pregnancy. Ocular migraine is common in women during pregnancy because the body of a woman not only undergoes physical changes but also emotional changes. However, the frequency of classical migraine decreases as the pregnancy prevails.
Why?
Ocular migraine during pregnancy can happen due to various reasons:
- Estrogen level
The continuous rise and fall in the estrogen levels is the culprit in causing ocular migraine, but the frequency of classical migraine decreases when the pregnancy reaches the third trimester due to high levels of estrogen.
- High blood pressure
During pregnancy the blood volume in a woman’s body increases by 45%. In order to accommodate this increased blood volume, the arteries and veins expand in size, while exerting pressure on the nearby blood vessels which can trigger ocular migraine in expecting women.
- Low hydration levels
During pregnancy the body requires more water than normal in order to function properly. Drinking 64-96 ounces of water is necessary for a pregnant woman.
- Stress
Even though pregnancy brings happiness and excitement, it is one the most difficult parts of female life. The horrors of labor pain and child health are the things which mostly become the reason behind stress in most women and can potentially result in ocular migraine.
How to deal with ocular migraine during pregnancy
- Exercise
Low exertion exercise is healthy for both, the mother and the baby. Yoga, swimming and jogging are good for maintaining health, boosting metabolism and maintaining blood pressure. Moreover, exercising also improves the quality of sleep, which can reduce the risk of ocular migraine.
- Enough sleep
Insomnia is frequent among women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Try to get as much rest as possible because lack of sleep can easily trigger ocular migraine. Try eating meals 4 hours before going to bed and avoid adding too much spice in the dinner as it can affect the quality of sleep.
- Reaching out
Pregnancy related worries can be easily sorted by reaching out to your friends and family. Seeking help can help in lowering stress and anxiety levels and thus reducing the risk of migraine.
- Cold and hot compress
Cold and hot compress can relax muscles and arteries around the neck and forehead, which can ease ocular migraine and ocular migraine related to nervous depression.
- Consulting the doctor
The best way is to inform your doctor about the symptoms in order to rule out other possible threats.
How harmful is ocular migraine during pregnancy:
Pregnant ladies should be very careful while experiencing ocular migraine. Even though complications due to ocular migraine are very rare, the risk is still there. Ocular migraine can be a symptom of later complications during childbirth. Women suffering from ocular migraine during pregnancy have a slight risk of
- Early child birth
- Congenital disorders
- Miscarriage
- Baby weight less than 5 pounds after birth
- Pre-eclampsia, which causes swelling and high blood pressure