Coping With Ocular Migraines

Ocular migraines (which are known to doctors as ophthalmic or ophthalmoplegic migraines) are vision problems related to changes of blood flow in the brain. Contrary to its name, ocular migraines are not always accompanied by a headache. Ocular migraines occur when the brain's blood flow responds to a trigger, which can include bright lights, ingredients in food, reactions to certain medications or the body's hormonal changes. Because of these triggers, the brain may produce certain light patterns that can be distracting and last up to an hour. Ocular migraines are very different from migraine headaches in that they usually are not associated with head or eye pain. Follow the steps below to learn how to cope with ocular migraines.

Things You'll Need

• Sunglasses
• Pain reliever
• Prescription medication (Cafergot)
• Soda, tea or coffee

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Instructions

• 1

  Immediately after noticing symptoms of ocular migraines, which may include flashing in your field of vision, blind spots or zigzag lines of light, take a pain reliever to calm the nerves in the brain and prevent any headaches from occurring after the ocular migraine.

• 2

  Wear sunglasses or sit in a darkened room if possible. In some cases, it can be impossible to get away to a darkened room, but sometimes your environment is what is causing the ocular migraine. Try to shut your eyes for at least ten minutes, and pull over if you are driving. Keeping sunglasses nearby is helpful when you are in a situation where you cannot shut your eyes.

• 3

  Drink soda, tea or coffee to prevent a migraine headache. It is unknown if drinking caffeinated drinks is beneficial to an individual suffering from ocular migraines. However, if migraine headaches are frequently known to follow the ocular migraines, it is best to take preventative measures as soon as possible.

• 4

  See a doctor. Although most doctors believe that ocular migraines are no cause for alarm and are not serious, she may provide you with a prescription medication if your ocular migraines are affecting your daily routine. Cafergot, which is a prescription medication containing caffeine, may be prescribed to slow any blood flow changes and relieve any pain during or following the ocular migraine.

• 5

  Stay calm. Ocular migraines usually last between ten minutes and an hour, and do not cause any long-term damage. The best thing you can do to relieve your ocular migraine is to relax as much as possible and avoid doing any stressful activities until your symptoms disappear.