Ocular migraine

[ThisIsNotAIBUPeople]

Does anyone suffer from regular ocular migrains? I've had several in the last few months and just wanted some reassurance. The NHS website basically says nothing to worry about, they do disappear after 10-20 mins of sitting with my eyes shut, its more of a nuisance than anything else! Especially if I'm trying to get out of the house for work etc. Thanks.

I get them very, very rarely - if you are having a cluster of them and you've never had them before, you should get them checked out. The GP will usually prescribe something you can have in the house just in case, which should stop them in their tracks.

But anything starting out of the blue should be checked out, imo.

Oh OK, bum I was hoping to brush them aside I'll make an appointment. Thanks for your reply.

You can try going to Drs but I don't think there is anything that they can actually do about ocular migraines (unless there's a specific underlying cause - obviously worth checking, just in case). Drugs prescribed for regular migraines don't seem to have any impact. Optician couldn't help either. Mine have really picked up over recent years - suspect it's hormone related - but Dr was totally unconcerned.

That's reassuring Bortusesmoustache. That was kind of what I thought from reading the NHS website. Could well be hormone related I am definitely peri menopausal.

I get these. Really scared me at first but I'm used to them now. Worth getting checked out after first one to make sure it's nothing more serious.

Agree with PP who mentioned hormones too. Under normal conditions I get around 2-3 per year. When pregnant with DC2 I had 3-4 per month. And couldn't take the Magic 'make it go away' pills.

Sorry you're suffering OP

Yep, I'm at the same stage. Really hoping the migraines stop once I'm through the menopause... they are so bloody annoying, specially if you're driving etc. I had a massive cluster of them a month or so ago and went back to the Drs, they did some blood work but all looked fine. They would have carried out further investigations if the migraines had continued to worsen week on week, but that didn't happen, thankfully.

I get them, and the normal pain-type migraines - not at the same time. I’ve had a definite increase both and am very peri menopausal. Joy.

I regularly have clusters of them- 14 in a week is my record- and then they stop for months on end.

Drs have been supremely uninterested apart from one lovely a&e Dr who told me to take a large aspirin dose if I start to get a run of them. Works brilliantly.

Mine seems to be triggered by stress, hormones and when the sun is at a particular angle during spring or summer.

Yes I've had them since childhood. Didn't know what they were and mentioned them to an optician a few years ago who told me they were eye migraines. They are so weird. Had one the other day, first time for ages. I tend to get them when tired and/or dehydrated.

I get them too. For me some seem to be triggered after getting out of a hot shower into a cold room, but others totally random. I suspect that it's probably hormones. Although I'm still in my thirties, I have a feeling that I'm in the beginning of peri menopause, there are too many weird things going on with my health and cycle.

Thanks everyone just seen all the replies. Really reassuring if somewhat crap! Sorry to everyone else suffering. Appreciate the advice.

I had one once while I was peri menopausal. I was convinced I was having a mini stroke. My vision was fractured, like looking through a kaleidoscope. Very scary!.

Yes, they are very weird and scary at first. Mine start out with just a tiny bit of vision affected, then gradually spread over the whole of one eye. Definitely couldn't drive with one. I've learnt to sit still with my eyes shut until it passes but that's not always very practical!

I get these too. They first started when I was pregnant with my ds almost 14 years ago and now I get them several times a year but always on the third day of my period so must be hormonal, I hope now at 46 and in perimenopause I’m not going to get them more frequently because even though I’ve had them for years they still scare the hell out of me. The start with a really odd blind spot area which turns into a zig zag area which then spreads across the whole of my vision, I rarely have a headache with them. I’ve had endless eye tests but nothing shows. There is a really good Facebook support group called Ocular Migraines which is really reassuring.

This is the kind of visual disturbance I get with them.

Bloody hello Dockray, 14 in a week is definitely a record! You poor thing! Will try aspirin next time I get a bunch of them. Weirdly, my optician said he had examined people's eyes while they were actually having one, and the eye looks perfectly normal - apparently the issue is occurring in the visual cortex in the brain. Not that knowing that helps, in anyway, but still interesting.

Hi OP. I used to get these regularly and used an app MigraineBuddy to keep a record to try and find any pattern. They went on for about 10 years or more and as you, started as a tingle one side and then turn to zig zags and black & white psychedelic patterns moving from one side to another. After 28minutes (the app tracks time!), they'd finish but I'd be left feeling worn out! My Dr didn't seem worried, I never had a headache with them.
Then I started HRT... Not one since!!! So in my case, they were definitely hormonal. Would be worth getting hormones checked and see where you are in menopause. Good luck, they're horrible (especially when they happen at the least convenient time!)

@menopours interesting you say that about HRT. I have asked my GP if I can go on it as I have been struggling with various perimenopausal symptoms. She is reluctant to prescribe due to my age (44) and because I am still having regular periods (am on the pill). Maybe I should peruse it if it would help with the migraines too. The wonderful joys of being a woman!
This thread has been really useful and it does help to know how common it is so thanks again everyone.

Persue not peruse!!

@Afternooninthepark yes I get them exactly as you describe them.

Hi OP, if you are on the combined pill your GP might ask you to switch to another form of contraceptive as they don't like giving the combined pill to women with visual symptoms during migraines.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/complications/