Ocular migraine and retinal migraine are used interchangeably. The older term is “ocular migraine,” and doctors used it to refer to any migraine that had visual symptoms. They would call a migraine with a visual aura and a retinal migraine an ocular migraine.
The newer term is “retinal migraine,” and doctors may prefer this term because it specifically refers to the type of migraine where visual symptoms occur in one eye.
Ocular Migraine Treatment
The visual symptoms of an ocular migraine usually last less than 60 minutes. If you get them less often than once a month, you probably won’t need specific treatment. In this case, stop what you’re doing and rest your eyes until your vision goes back to normal. If you have a headache, take a pain reliever that your doctor recommends.
To help prevent your migraines, avoid triggers. For instance:
Stop smoking.
Avoid foods and drinks that trigger your migraines.
Stay hydrated.
Follow your doctor’s advice for managing your blood pressure.
Manage your stress in a healthy way.
Change to a different method of birth control if you take birth control pills.
Medications for ocular migraine
There hasn’t been much research on the best way to treat or prevent ocular migraine. Your doctor may recommend one or more drugs, such as:
Drugs that treat epilepsy, such as topiramate (Qudexy XR, Topamax, Trokendi XR) or valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote)
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), or venlafaxine (Effexor)
Blood pressure medicines including beta-blockers like metoprolol (Lopressor) or propranolol (Inderal), and calcium-channel blockers such as nicardipine (Cardene) and verapamil (Calan)
CGRP inhibitors, including eptinezumab (Vyepti), erenumab (Aimovig), fremanezumab (Ajovy), galcanezumab (Emgality)
Devices to prevent ocular migraine
The market also offers various devices to prevent ocular migraine. For instance:
sTMS mini gives off a magnetic pulse that stimulates part of the brain. You hold it at the back of your head at the first sign of a headache.
Nerivio is a wireless remote electrical neuromodulation device that you put on your upper arm at the beginning of migraine headaches.
Cefalys is a portable headband-like tool that you use for 20 minutes once a day. It gives electrical impulses on the skin at the forehead and stimulates a nerve associated with migraine headaches. When it’s on, you’ll probably feel a tingling or massaging sensation.
gammaCore is a noninvasive vagus nerve stimulator that sends mild electrical stimulation to your vagus nerve. This helps ease pain or helps prevent onset of a migraine.
How to Get Rid of Ocular Migraines: Home Remedies
Some lifestyle habits and home remedies and that may help you manage your symptoms include:
Get enough sleep. Good sleep habits can help you avoid migraines and ease your symptoms. Experts suggest you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, avoid screen time before you go to bed, and spend some time in natural light during the day. If you feel a migraine coming on during the day and you’re able to, try to take a nap.
Get enough exercise. Obviously, don’t exercise while you have a migraine, but getting some regular light impact exercise may help prevent attacks and lessen symptoms when you do have them. Experts suggest that walking and yoga are good options for a light-impact exercise. If you feel a migraine coming on, some people say that doing a bit of light exercise can stop their migraine before it gets bad.
Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause a regular headache, and many people say that it can trigger a migraine, as well. Try to regularly drink about 64 ounces of water a day. If you feel a headache coming on, it may be a sign that you’re becoming dehydrated. If you’re able to, keep water with you and sip on it throughout your day.
Dim your lights. Light sensitivity is a common symptom of a migraine. Keeping the lights in your living space and office dim may help prevent migraine attacks. Other ideas for when you’re feeling sensitive to light include:
Use blackout curtains on your windows so you can block light.
Wear sunglasses when outside.
Add anti-glare screens to your computer.
Use daylight-spectrum fluorescent bulbs indoors.
Use a cold or hot compress when you have a migraine. Keep a cold compress or bag of ice nearby and press it to your temple or neck when you feel an attack coming on. Some people may prefer a hot compress or heating pad. Whether it’s hot or cold, don’t leave a compress on for more than 15 minutes because it can injure your skin.
Get a scalp massage. A massage can help relieve tension and promote blood circulation in the muscles of your scalp and neck. This may help ease your pain.
Try essential oils. There’s no scientific evidence that it can relieve your pain. However, if your favorite essential oil helps you relax, then it may be worth a try. Some people like peppermint and lavender for their ability to ease stress. However, many people find that they’re more sensitive to smells during a migraine and some find that strong smells can trigger a migraine.
Ocular Migraine Prevention
The first step to preventing migraines is to avoid your triggers. To do that, you must know what your triggers are. To help determine what your triggers are, try keeping a journal with:
What you were doing before you got an ocular migraine
What you ate or drank before your migraine
How you felt before your migraine
If you have migraines regularly, ask your doctor about preventive medicines such as calcium channel blockers. Nifedipine or verapamil seem to work the best for people with ocular migraine.
Living With Ocular Migraine
Having migraines can really effect your quality of life. If you have vision problems, you need to avoid driving until your headache passes. You also need to avoid your triggers and be prepared to deal with a migraine if it happens. However, there are ways of preventing attacks and easing your symptoms. Take care of yourself and talk to your doctor about your medication options and any lifestyle changes you can make.
Takeaways
An ocular migraine is a migraine headache that causes visual symptoms, such as blind spots or flashing lights, in one eye. Your doctor may also call it a retinal migraine. The other symptoms, triggers, prevention strategies, and treatments are the same as for any type of migraine. The best way to avoid migraines is to understand your triggers and avoid them. You can ease your symptoms by taking an NSAID and lying down in a cool, dark room.