# Ocular migraine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516 "2013-04-12T16:23:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516/41 "2020-05-13T02:24:52Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > It is a \*retinal \*migraine, or possibly \*ocular \*migraine. There is also the migraine aura, a constellation of sensations that often precedes a migraine headache, and can include symptoms similar to a retinal migraine. [The three things are not the same.](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/expert-answers/ocular-migraine/faq-20058113) > > Most people associate the word “migraine” with a migraine headache. Almost always if you hear someone say “I had a migraine” it means they had a headache that has severe pain, often on one side of the head, near the temple, possibly accompanied by nausea, and increased sensitivity to light. I used to get them when I was young. They can be triggered by stress, lack of sleep, alcohol. They can last from a couple of hours to days. Hmmm. You’re making me nervous. From your link: > [@](#): > > A retinal migraine — unlike a migraine aura — will affect only one eye, not both. But usually, loss of vision in one eye isn’t related to migraine. It’s generally caused by some other more serious condition. What I get is invariably in one eye. On the other hand, I’ve been getting these for something like forty years, and it hasn’t gotten worse, and I haven’t had a stroke or anything, so I’m probably OK. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516/42 "2020-05-13T12:58:49Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Me too, **solost**. The annoying thing is that mine will start with just a pinpont of light, but right in the center of my field of view, so I can’t read. > But at lest I know what it is… now… > \* Yeah, that’s how it happens for me at first- a pinpoint of light in the center of my vision that at first I think is the afterimage you get when you look at a too-bright light. But then instead of fading away in a minute it grows into a large blurry area with a crazy silvery-gold shimmery zig-zag border. That lasts about 20 minutes. And I never heard of \*\*\*retinal \*\*\*migraines, that’s a new one. I think when I get my vision thing it’s in both eyes, but I’m not sure now. It’s been a few years since I got one. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516/43 "2020-05-13T14:00:20Z")
Started getting these visual disturbances several years ago. Maybe once per year. Learned it’s called a [scintillating scotoma.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma) Annoying and discruptive - but thankfully for me, they’ve never been accompanied by headaches. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516/44 "2020-05-13T15:48:37Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > Hmmm. You’re making me nervous. > > From your link: > > What I get is invariably in one eye. > > On the other hand, I’ve been getting these for something like forty years, and it hasn’t gotten worse, and I haven’t had a stroke or anything, so I’m probably OK. Yeah, me too. The first time it happened I went to an ophthalmologist and he sent me home with a pamphlet and told me not to worry about it. I get them in one eye but it’s the classic scintillating scotoma (link in post above). There are other more alarming symptoms, like lighting flashes in one eye, which could indicate a detached retina. That is quite serious. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516/45 "2020-05-13T17:34:07Z")
I’ve had ocular migraines, never associated with headache, and I _think_ they are always in one eye. But it’s hard to be sure, because I still see it with my eyes closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ocular-migraine/655516.md?page=2)