Ocular/Retinal Migraines For 2+ Years. Please help!!!!

Also just to mention another symptom I always get is halos (sometimes a double or triple halo) around lights. See the 'major pressure' image to give you an idea.

http://www.amandamackay.com/handmade-blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Pigment-dispersion-syndrome.jpg

Ask for a referal to a neurologist - your GP does not have a right to refuse.

Yes the aura can just be visual and in one eye only. The eye check would more than likely have picked up any sign of a brain tumour as the aura, in your case, is in the eye

Time wise have you tried having your glasses tinted as light can trigger migraines

Firstly any onset of Migraine is a Frightening Experience so dont feel like a Hypocondriac you will find on here you are not alone .. I have had Migraines most of my Adult life and still to this day on a occassion think my god what the hell is going on .... Along side which i have my other partner in crime Deppression Again a adult life time whom i live with quote not suffer with ... Each i think is linked to each other my opinion not a medical opinion , for you see it is the brain we are talking about here the most complex part but yet feared part of out anatomy . I can and will offer your support and a sense of humour . It may take some time to find your trigger but dont give up we are remember all individuals so what may well be great for one not so for another .. As with myself and my Happy Tabs as i refer to ... Now theres are few smiler tales i could tell if your ever feeling down . Kindest wishes always xx

Thanks for all the replies so far. 

Is there anybody that experiences these migraines that can offer any advice?

 

Hi all,

Just an update. The frequency has now increased to practically daily migraines. 

I've seen a neurologist privately and had another eye check up. 

Eyes perfectly fine, pressure in both eyes is fine. 

Neurologist examined me and have had an MRI scan. It came back completely normal. 

I'm at a loss as to what to do next. I have an appointment next week to discuss therapy/meds moving forward.

Even if I don't drink alcohol/caffeine etc they still are coming on almost daily. Over half of my day every day is spent with one of my eyes patched and battling a headache. 

I'm considering getting a private neck xray/scan to rule out anything tension/posture related. 

 

Hey! 

I've had migraine auras since the age of 11 (now 23) They were prety standard auras then pain (often no pain. migraleve help too) 

I've suffered with health anxiety over the past 12 years. It became extreme around 2010/11 and i started getting (What seems to be) Retinal Migraines. They began when i had derealization and i beleive stress has caused mine. They happen about 4 times a year (I know not as much as yours) And last 1-2 mins.

I've never been diagnosed with any migraines - But with a family history we kinda knew what was happening at age 11. My retinal migraines consist of light, stars and sparkles. They are in one eye (unlike the 2 eye's auras - which i get a couple a month on average..give or take)

It seems you've made all the right moves in getting help .You'll notice that over time migraines can increase and decrease and often for no reason. I've gone through bad and good spells.

I've read horror stories online about Retinal migrianes (because that's me!!) But you need to know that more often than not they don't cause any severe problems. 

"Although frightening, ocular migraines are typically harmless. Most people recover fully. They can sometimes cause damage to the retina and its blood vessels. Permanent vision loss is quite rare." 

So yes, they can cause damage. But it's rare. And with you having a good neuro/doc/eye doc i'm sure they'd be able to monitor it. Which is great. 

My eyes are fine after 3 years of retinal migraines. But they are a worry! Because I'm natrually prone to worry over my health. It makes me wonder, with your worries, if anxiety could be a rooy cause?

Just to add an update to this thread.

I am still experiencing these one-sided vision problems practically every day. 

I have noticed a few things, and done some experiments over the last month or so.

1) If I take painkillers (ibruprofen, paracetamol) it removes some of the headache pain but the vision problems persist.

2) The right eye affected is hard to the touch, and feels like the cornea has enlarged. More rarely there is very mild pain in the eyeball itself.

3) The only thing that seems to provide relief is if I go to sleep. If I sleep for 2-3 hours, usually the symptoms don't return until the next day. 

4) I have noticed on days that I exercise intensely I get a longer period without the symptoms coming back. 

5) I have cut out alcohol/caffeine and no difference. Also avoided computer use and no difference. 

One other biggie to mention, is I have depression and anxiety. However on days when I go out (say a night out) when there is no real stress that day, these vision issues still happen. 

I am now wondering if this is blood pressure related, or perhaps a sign of glaucoma or maybe some sort of sinus/eye infection? I am considering getting an appointment with an opthamologist to thouroughly examine the eye before and during an attack so see if any differences can be measured. As I understand it a migraine is largely neurological, so if I do experience pressure increases in an eye or swelling, I wouldn't actually associate that with migraine. 

Also as mentioned before I will also look into a good head/neck x-ray.

Unfortunately for the depression side I am being offered SSRI's but I feel to see how these will magic away these very physical problems. 

 So sorry to hear you have these symptoms. It is very scary to have this happen. 

I do not blame you for not wanting to take the SSRI's. Have you looked into Holistic treatment for your issues? There are a lot of good Drs who think outside the box and offer alternative Meds and such. Maybe that would help you?

Good luck.

Hi Paul, I was just browsing the internet about having the same kind of headache you have, and found that I have the same kind of problems of headaches.

It started with me about 4 years ago, (I had depressesion, therefore I laid in my bed for days on an end.) It started in that period.

(I would also like to say that I have always been on the computer for hours each day)

Back than I had it every week, and It only happend on the right side of my head. I felt my heartbeat at the right side of my head, and I had tears coming out of my right eye (even though I was not crying. I also head visual problems when I had the headache. Only at the right side.)

Anyway, after a couple of month the future looked better, I didn't stay the whole day in bed anymore.

But the headache kept getting worse. I used to take a dafalgan, which made it better in about 30 minutes.)

After a while the headache went away, I had only a couple of times a month, but it wasn't as severe as it used to be. 

Now for a year, I have it mostly everyday. It mostly starts when I get out of bed, that I feel a headache is coming. I can feel a very little pulse in the right side of my head, and It gets worse by the minute.  

It also comes back mostly in the evening, and I havnt found anything that can actually "cure" it. As I don't want to take pills everytime I have this headache, which is basicaly daily.

However, I havnt' found anything wrong with my neck, or any kind of pains with it.

If you have found something that have helped you, please share.

kind regards

Hi all.

I finally have found a diagnosis to my problem. 

I have been diagnosed with glaucoma/high interocular pressure in the right eye. I have been given drops to use and am possibly having laser surgery soon. 

Pretty much since day one of taking the drops the headaches have practically disappeared, and visual symptoms are at least 80-90% better than before. 

I would URGE anybody reading this thread with these symptoms to get a detailed eye pressure check-up (they actually put drops in the eye to numb it and then touch the surface of the eye with a pressure reading device).

You may (like me) have to ignore several opinions from high street opticians and neurologists to get to the bottom of it. 

I wish you all the best.

Paul

Paul,

I started having migraines at 13 and also suffered anxiety and I have only now 30 years later linked the two. I believe people who suffer anxiety with no psychological explanation either produce excess adrenaline or can't break it down. My triggers are exercise (but not every time) and eating oranges which made my tongue swell. Both these involve the release of adrenaline. I see a migraine as a symptom of anxiety. Control the adrenaline with medication and say goodbye to anxiety and migraines.

Won't be the case for everyone but worth trying. I am on Propranolol which is for anxiety and also prescribed to prevent migraine. People who get migraine are 3 x more likely to get anxiety.

Hope this solves it for you!

I'm going through the same thing.  What happened with you?

Laurie