What Causes Optical Migraines?

Blinding flashes of light, blind spots, shimmering spots and zigzagging patterns are commonly associated with the beginnings of an optical migraine attack. Also called acephalgic migraines, ocular migraines are a rare condition that involves piercing headaches that are accompanied by visual disturbances. While the causes of an optical migraine are unknown, the effects include nausea, hemiparesis, aura, photophobia and other classic symptoms related to common migraines.

Triggers

• An optical migraine can happen for a variety of reasons, and can invovle minor to severe pain. Anyone who experiences this type of migraine should try to determine what is triggering the problem in order to relieve or even eliminate the problem.

Usual Causes

• An optical migraine that is followed by a classical migraine, the causes include too much alcohol intake, an unhealthy diet, empty stomach or uncontrollable hunger, stress, premenstrual syndrome and the use of contraceptive pills.

Eye Stress

• Other factors that may trigger an optical migraine are prolonged exposure to direct or strong sunlight, too much exercise, addiction to watching TV, long periods of computer work and the habit of late night reading.

Medical Condition Theories

• Various medical theories claim the following health conditions as the possible causes of optical migraines: allergies, temporary edema of the brain, disturbance of endocrine functions and narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain that is followed by dilation.

Food

• Some foods may act as triggers. Items such as aged cheese, chicken innards (especially the liver), red wine, preserved meat (i.e. ham, bacon), chocolates and monosodium glutamate (MSG).