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What Are the Causes of an Ophthalmoplegic Migraine?

Ophthalmoplegic migraines were first recognized as a condition in the mid-1880s. But according to Levin M. Ward TN of the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, the International Headache Society has recently reclassified this condition from a subtype of migraine to a form of neurological.

  1. Identification

    • In addition to head pain, ophthalmoplegic migraines are associated with a weakness of the muscles surrounding the eyes, droopy eyelids, vision changes and eye paralysis. Ophthalmoplegic migraines can occur without accompanying headaches and involve only eye symptoms. Patients present with ophthalmoplegia (paralysis of the muscles of the eye) suffer headaches as a secondary symptom.

    Causes

    • According to Dr. Todd Troost, MRIs and MRAs performed on patients have consistently revealed abnormalities and inflammation of the third ocular motor nerve.

    Pituitary Causes

    • In an article published by neurology experts at Tor Vergata University of Rome lends credence to possible pituitary causes. MRIs showed not only third nerve palsy, but additionally a small, hemorrhaging tumor of the pituitary gland, known as hemorrhagic pituitary adenoma.

    Vascular Causes

    • It is believed that the head pain associated with ophthalmoplegic migraines is due to dilation of blood vessels, whereas the ophthalmoplegia itself is caused by constriction of extra-cranial vessels, particularly those involved in the oculomotor nerve complex.

    Long-Term Effects

    • Recovery from the episode tends to be gradual over a course of days. When attacks are frequent, it can cause permanent damage to the third nerve.

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