Any experiences of ocular/retinal migraines?

[Donatella]

I've had a few ocular migraines over the years, the first was about 10 years ago, they usually happen about every 12-18 months, last about 20 mins then go away. However this weekend I've had them every day, and I'm currently having my second one in a couple of hours. It starts out as a small disturbance in my vision, difficult to pinpoint at first, then grows until about half my vision is affected. The disturbance is like a shimmering/mosaic pattern, a bit like when a TV signal gets interrupted, and I can't see things that are in the affected area, which is usually in my periperhal vision. For instance I am struggling to type this as I can't see all the letters on my phone keyboard at once. This one was particularly worrying when it started as I was driving; I've had to pull up on double yellows until it passes as I wasn't safe to drive any longer.

Has anyone ever had a sudden increase in frequency of attacks like this? Did you see a doctor and what did they say?

Yeah, l had this. They started during the menopause for about 3 years. Then they went.

Mine are exactly like yours, I've had them more frequently at times but not as frequently as you, more like two in a weekend, no more than that.

I'd give 111 a call to be on the safe side.

Don't worry though I'm sure it's nothing.

Bright sunshine is one of my triggers.

Full sugar coca cola and two paracetamol at first frazzle line usually works for me.

For you right now you need to get off double yellows if you've not yet moved car - and go find a pharmacist, see what they can offer.
It is a vile affliction for sure.

I get them less than once a year and I think I would make an appointment with my GP if they suddenly became more frequent.

I get exactly as you describe, have had them for 15 years. I get about 4-5 per year. I have had occasions when I get them much more frequently and not sure why. For me they are caused by hormones as I tend to get them on the 2nd or 3rd day of my period and during pregnancy.

I had a bad ocular migraine on Wednesday, caught me off guard.

Hormones and weather changes usually big trigger's for me, especially the latter. I call summer "migraine" season. I can tell you if there's a thunderstorm coming about half an hour before it rolls in...it's my superpower. This summer has been particularly bad.

If you can get your hands on a blood pressure monitor, I would check it regularly over intervals to rule out issues there. But if you're worried, speak to your GP.

I get them exactly as you describe, but then after the shimmery vision I also get pins and needles / numbness in my face and often an arm (or both arms) then a hideously painful headache for 2-6 hours where I just want to lie down and die. Occasionally i vomit too. Thankfully I only seem to get 1-2 a year. Mine are triggered by bright sunlight too, and stress (usually when stressful things have just passed).

I saw my GP and she said they sounded textbook and as I had no other worries and my blood pressure was ok, to just keep doing what I was doing (wear sunglasses at all times in bright light when outside, and 2 paracetamol and 2 aspirin together at the first sign of one coming in).

Interesting re the coke as well at onset, will have to try that.

I’ve had these for years I call them my flashing light episode,

Beta blockers worked for me, I also noticed that they stopped when I had botox for forehead wrinkes, I have no idea if this is linked (correlation is not causation) but I do wonder? I am not sure if it was the beta blockers or the botox but I am now post menapause and on HRT and I have not had one for about 5 years.

They came when under stress and run down. So after a heavy evening/weekend of partying, or when work/life stress was so intense that it made me unable to operate at full pelt- I see them as a warning sign that I need to rest.

Never had them until now. Like my eyes shutting down. Very strange indeed.

GP said connected to menopause, age & hormones.

Yes I had my first when I was 21 out riding a horse. That was interesting. Then someone said buy dual packs of pink and yellow migraleve. I had to use both to begin with, but now I only need take a single pink one. Knocks it on the head in about 5 minutes so long as you take it as soon as you sense the mosaic patterns.

I miss mi e! I used to quite enjoy the weird shapes and patterns!

Yes I get them every now and then.

I think they're one of those things where you worry there may be a sinister underlying reason, but actually it's usually just hormonal.

Hormones and bright sunlight are triggers for me too. I had a run of them in pregnancy but usually am like you - 1-2 every 1-2 years. Not sure whether pregnancy/peri is likely factor for you.

Will try the coke and paracetamol trick next time!

I had what I thought was one of these a week ago and went to the opticians just to be safe as I am very short sighted -9.50 both eyes and anyway it’s turned out to be a posterior vitreous detachment! Which often happens to people as they get older anyway but at 40 I’m a bit young but that’s bad eyes for you… If you aren’t sure if it’s a migraine or not or if the flashing lights continue please get it checked out at an optician, flashing lights and loss of vision can be a sign of retinal detachment which can cause loss of vision if not treated so it needs checking urgently.

Yep, I did the emergency optician thing, just in case it was a detached retina. They were excellent.

@Mxflamingnoravera I was recommended Botox by a neurologist for treatment for migraines.

I took the better known option of micro dosing antidepressants (Amitriptyline) - I couldn't take beta blockers as my blood pressure is already sub humanly low.

Thanks all. It cleared pretty soon after I posted, I'm now back at our holiday accommodation and am lying down as I have a severe headache - I don't always get them after an episode but I do sometimes. In answer to some of the suggestions/questions, it's difficult to say if they are hormonal as I have a mirena and don't get periods so no idea where I am in my cycle. Definitely not pregnant and early 40s so unlikely to be peri. No other obvious triggers; no common foods/drinks, no stresses, can happen both indoors and out, at any time of day, and when busy or relaxed. I'll see if they keep happening and call my GP when I'm home next week if they keep coming this frequently.

I get these. The flashy/wiggly thing is the aura from the migraine. I used to get them a lot when I was 15-30 ish but have only had one in the last few years. Sometimes I don't get the headache, I just get the aura and then feel nauseous. If you're suddenly getting a lot of them, see the GP/optician. I have always felt mine were hormonal and strongly stress/run down related.

OP you say not peri, but I'm younger than you and I am in the beginnings of perimenopause for sure!

You describe the migraines I get! I call them mini migraines. My vision is disturbed in the same way you describe, and this last roughly half and hour, then I have mild pain for approx three hours. I am quite tired after.
I get them 4-5 times a year, but I did have two over two days when pregnant (I panicked but the doctor said it was hormonal).
I think mine are triggered by tiredness and not eating/drinking properly. The heat doesn’t help either. Definitely keep an eye (no pun intended!) on them, and see your GP if you are concerned.

Early forties definitely in the zone for peri. Hormone fluctuations or physical / emotional stress

I get them too op, sometimes lots in a row, sometimes once a month. I don't really do anything about them as they go, but they do leave me feeling a bit spaced out. I used to get migraines as pain and auras, but now just auras.

Both my dds have been prescribed riboflavin for theirs and ed, who has been on it for a while, says it really has helped. She does get painful ones though.

I'd call your gp and see them. An eye test would be a good first visit though, as they can see if there is anything physically wrong with your eyes. The gp will often ask if you've had your eyes checked.

I get them exactly like you OP. Maybe once or twice a year. They dissipate pretty quickly. I spoke to my GP about it and he said that he’d never heard of the condition and told me to get my eyes tested (which I do regularly anyway).

Interesting about the coke….