Among the various types of migraine is the ocular migraine, also known as retinal or ophthalmic migraine, and as its name indicates, it is about episodes of headache accompanied by symptoms that involve visual disturbances, so it enters the group of migraines with aura This condition is not very common, it occurs in approximately one person in every 200 with some migraine and affects mainly young adults, of which women represent the most significant number of registrations.
This type of migraine with aura usually lasts between 4 and 72 hours, depending on the measures taken to control it and the triggering factor, including the intake of some foods or specific ingredients, constant stress, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and predisposition to suffer migraines due to family history. It is also possible to develop retinal migraine due to other conditions, such as epilepsy and depression.
As in any migraine, the pain can prevent you from doing any activity correctly, in addition to involving an important sense such as sight, causing more significant discomfort. For this reason, in this FastlyHealarticle, we want to inform you everything about ocular migraine: symptoms and treatment.
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Ocular migraine symptoms
Many migraines are usually confused with severe headaches; in other cases, the origin of the pathology is not clear, so the types of migraine are confused. Being attentive to the symptoms will be vital in determining the appropriate treatment for the condition.
The main symptoms of ocular migraine that are observed are:
- The moderate or severe headache usually affects only one side of the head and worsens with physical activity.
- Discomfort or sensitivity to sound or light.
- Flashes of light are perceived, usually affecting only one eye.
- Dark spots may appear that obstruct the visual field.
- Temporary loss of vision, primarily affecting only one of the eyes.
- Nausea and vomiting
Treatment to combat ocular migraine
In most cases, ocular migraine does not represent a severe condition and usually disappears in a short time on its own. However, if this condition is recurrent or the discomfort lasts for a long time, it is advisable to see a doctor for the correct diagnosis and determine the possible origin of this pathology.
Because ocular migraine is a rare condition in the population, its treatment is not specific. It coincides with that other types of migraine, so the doctor may prescribe the use of analgesics for pain or more muscular drugs according to the degree of ocular migraine. Likewise, the other symptoms should disappear; if these persist despite medication ingestion or after there is no further discomfort, consult the ophthalmologist to rule out eye problems.
On the other hand, you can accompany the prescribed treatment with a series of methods to help reduce ocular migraine symptoms. The main thing is to rest until the discomfort disappears, preferably lying down and with your eyes closed. Also, placing cold compresses on the forehead is a good treatment for ocular migraine headaches, and sometimes improvement has been seen when taking a bath or massaging the head area with pain.
Tips to prevent ocular migraine
Although ocular migraine can depend on factors that cannot be avoided, such as due to more severe diseases, in general, its appearance can be prevented by taking these recommendations into account:
- Avoid fermented or protein-rich foods, for example, aged cheeses, soy sauce, eggs, red and rose wine, or cold cuts, which usually trigger this condition. In our article on food to avoid migraines, we give you some sound nutritional advice that will help you keep this condition at bay.
- Reduce the consumption of chocolate, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks, which, due to their caffeine content, increase discomfort.
- Ingest little or no alcoholic beverages.
- Avoid tobacco, another trigger for migraines.
- Perform frequent physical exercise and apply relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga, which will help reduce stress and reduce the frequency of migraine episodes.
- Sleeping at least 8 hours a day, lack of sleep can lead to migraine episodes.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.