To think this might not be a migraine aura?

[Tzigane]

So I woke up on Thursday and couldn't see properly out of my left eye. There was a grey disc in the centre of my vision, another in my peripheral vision and columns of white light when I moved my eye.

Couldn't get an optician appointment but they said it needed to be seen asap. GP sent me to eye hospital where they examined my eye.

Good news that didn't seem to be detached retina, and optic nerve looked ok. So diagnosed 'ocular migraine' without headache.

But ocular migraine supposedly last for around an hour. 4 days later, it's still there. I've had migraines with aura for 30 years - banging headache + seeing stars in both eyes. In this case no headache, no nausea, nothing etc.

Has anyone who does or doesn't above migraines experienced similar?

Tia

Above was not very specific but I have lost the letter and leaflet etc I was given. Sounds as though you should maybe get it checked ?

I’ve only ever had ocular migraines. It starts with a flash of light as if someone has taken a photo. Then I get blue and yellow wavy lines in my peripheral vision and huge blind spots at whatever I try to look at. I literally have to by helped home and into bed.

I take two paracetamol and a big drink of water and sleep for an hour or so. I have always woken up fine. I have never had pain just vision disturbances.

Luckily has only happened 4 or 5 times.

If yours is going on for a few days you do need to be checked out again.

I’m an optometrist.
You need to have an eye exam tomorrow - it could be one of a few things.
If no one can see you - you need to go to an eye casualty unit.

I have had this twice. I thought I was having a stroke I was petrified.

Had classical migraines for years and nothing like that before.

Although it only lasted an evening.

But no headache, no nausea or anything.

Ocular migraine (which affects one eye and originates in the retina) is not the same as migraine aura (originates in the brain and affects both eyes).

Both migraine and ocular migraine can cause scotoma and flashing lights, as OP describes.

@Darkstar4855

Ocular migraine (which affects one eye and originates in the retina) is not the same as migraine aura (originates in the brain and affects both eyes). However four days is a long time to have it for. I’d go back and see the eye specialists again and let them take another look.

Ah right, ok thanks.

@underneaththeash

I’m an optometrist. You need to have an eye exam tomorrow - it could be one of a few things. If no one can see you - you need to go to an eye casualty unit.

Ok thanks I'll find an optometrist to have another look.

@HeronLanyon

I had this coincidentally day after burning my eye. So I went to moorfields. They diagnosed age related floater/flasher which is common in 50s onwards. Change of shape of eye causing it. Mine is not ‘worrying’ but I am to return if I get ‘curtains’ shading across surface. It’s left me with what feels like the start of a migraine all of the time. Hollow round dark shape in one eye. Sometimes I think it’s a fly/mosquito coming towards me or a bird darting in the distance. Totally livable with.

How did you burn your eye?

Please go back to your GP and insist on seeing a neurologist. This symptom is a sign of numerous things and to label it a Migraine shouldn't happening before relevant tests - such as an MRI

I get migraines got one just now. Never had that but have started getting slurred speech which is new for me get pins and needles my skin feels like its burning from from the inside out and my throat hurt when I drink hot or cold ..

tzigane bit of hot fat - think a pepper I was grilling on the job flame kind of exploded. V odd coincidence but think I was really paying attention to my vision afterwards. Consultant at eye hosp said fat hadn’t even left a mark. Then spent ages looking at the back of my eye - still haven’t found my condition name - to do with the gel becoming harder, changing shape. Age related.
Took a few weeks for me not to feel slightly sick thinking a migraine was about to start all the time (the shape is exactly how migraines used to start followed by being violently sock). Kind of had to decide not to be upset about it. Livable with.
Good luck with your ‘aura’.

Can you go straight back to the eye hospital, not sure where you are, but moorfields have a 24 hour a and e.

I get occular migraines and they are exactly as the pp posted above

Same here, but some can last a few hours. I started to get them almost daily so gp gave me atenolol and it works

Thanks everyone, I really appreciative the kindness of everyone who has taken the time to respond. I've made an appointment with an optometrist to get a second opinion - I may go back to the eye hospital, depending on the outcome.

@HeronLanyon - that sounds awful - thanks for your advice. I may just have to learn to live with it depending on the cause.

Have you been seen?

I hope someone has checked you out and everything is ok! I got ocular migraines for the first time in my last pregnancy - the first time it happened, I was terrified, being suddenly unable to see out of one eye while trying to do toddler bedtime!

After checking to be sure it wasn't pre-eclampsia, my doctor said it was pretty clearly a migraine and I shouldn't worry about seeing a doctor about any future ones unless they lasted longer than 72 hours. There were others but none of mine ever lasted more than an hour - but yours has, so I hope someone is taking it seriously!