Ocular migraine?

[Julie1]

I've had some weird eye symptoms since about February of this year and wanted to see if anyone else had the same symptoms or had any idea of what was causing it.

Every so often (it happens at work and seems to be after I've been working on my computer for a long time), I'll get blurred vision and will have trouble focusing my eyes on my work. It doesn't hurt and sometimes feels that my eyeballs are being squeezed. I feel dizzy during the time that I am experiencing symptoms. The bright lights in my office usually exacerbate the symptoms. My eyes usually return to normal within about a half hour to an hour after the onset. I've also found that sitting in a dark room sometimes helps to relieve the effects of the eye episode. Sometimes, I'll get a mild to moderate tension headache after the eye episode but not always. It usually does not happen very often, but it's already happened twice this week. I asked my eye doctor after the first two episodes and he said that it sounded like an ocular migraine and that I should see a neurologist if it interferes with my life. I'm tired of doctors though. I also have some tingling and some burning in my hands recently and am not sure if that's related to the eyes or seperate. I'm wondering about carpel tunnel syndrome since I work on keyboard all day. I usually think the worse, but it turns out to be a simple explanation. I was searching the internet tonight and convinced myself that I had some awful diseases, and the explanation is probably simple.

What do you guys thiink of the eye symptoms? or the whole situation?

Thanks for any input. I hope you are all doing well!

-Julie

[calli66]

Hi Julie,

I have ocular migraines, but they seem a bit different than what you've described. There is a visual "disturbance," usually starting as a small scintillating arc of glittery colors/light, that obscures my central vision. As it progresses, the arc gets bigger, less intense, and then finally dissipates after about 20 minutes.

If it's really strong and distracting, I go lie down and cover my eyes. This is the "aura" they talk about---with migraines. Usually with ocular migraine, you don't get the headache--I don't.

It's not a harmful thing and there are many "triggers"---different ones for different people. For me, it's too much caffeine, or certain sugars (dates).

If you work at a computer all day, you might be having accommodation or convergence problems. Our focusing mechanism can get sort of stuck or cramped. I sometimes get that when I'm at the computer for hours. I can't "un-cross" my eyes for an hour or so, once I stop. This is pretty weird when I have to go drive somewhere and can't keep my eyes focused in the distance.

It's important to take frequent breaks while working at the computer--get up, look up into the distance, close eyes, etc. I'm very bad at that--I really get into doing something and blow off taking the breaks.

C66

[brd888]

Migraines

I used to get something similar. A large blind spot would appear just to the left of central vision. This would be a prelude to 3-4 hours of a dreadful migraine episode which make me sick thinking about it. Fortunately I've not had a migraine for 4 years (touch wood). I got 2 periods of recurring migraines, one between ages of 14 and 18 and another between ages 30-31.

Some people get visual disturbances without a migraine coming on. Some people don't get visual disturbance but get a migraine.

[kitty]

I don't think any of us are in a position to diagnose you. The vision and neuropathic symptoms could be due to a number of things. They could be related to each other, or could be two separate problems. I suggest you start with a trip to your primary care physician for a routine physical with blood work, to make sure you don't have diabetes, thyroid problems, etc. You say you are tired of doctors, I think we all are. But it sounds to me that if you are concerned enough to post about your symptoms, then you should be concerned enough about your symptoms to see your doctor. Just my two cents worth. Also, be cautious of Cyberchondria! It is all too easy to think you have something terrible when you Google your symptoms and come up with a laundry list of terrible diseases. I have been there, done that and have sites bookmarked to show for it! Take care and let us know what the doctors say!

[IanJ]

Hi,

I get "eye migraines". I was told they are physically the same as normal migraines except they are on the retina and are painless as well as harmless.

They appear as small white spots, usually quite close to my centre of vision (on the macula) and last anything from 10 mins to 5 or 6 hours. I notice that bright sunlight brings them on, I tend to get them after 5pm when I leave the office in the car.

They freak me out each time because they are almost visually identical to retinal vein occlusions (which I have one in each eye) which are basically blocked retinal veins (clot)......that are there for life as that part of the retina dies thorugh lack of blood supply.

Ian.