By Dr. Pavan Lohiya, Ophthalmology

Ocular Migraines are generally referred to as temporary visual disruptions which affect mainly one of your eyes. They are often painless and usually subside without any medication; within 30 minutes of experiencing them. You can also experience them during or after a migraine. Migraines can also be accompanied by a temporary loss of vision and can induce sighting of flashing lights or blind spots. This is an “aura” and should not be confused with ocular migraines. Signs and Symptoms-

1. Ocular Migraines are characterised by visual disturbances such as blindness or having blind spots in your line of sight. You might face such difficulties in only one of your eyes.
2. The headache can last for around 3 days and is often accompanied by moderate to high pain on either side of the head and a pulsating feeling in the head. This pain might increase while you move.
3. Other symptoms may include vomiting or nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound.

Causes- The exact reason for ocular migraines has not been identified yet. Experts tend to believe that spasms in the retina or the tissue lining at the back of the eye which can spread to the retinal nerves, are the primary causes of ocular migraines. Treatment- Though this condition is quite rare and affects only 1-2 % of the people suffering from migraines, it is still a dangerous medical issue which can lead to permanent vision loss if not taken care of immediately. Since the pain tends to subside even without medication, some people tend to ignore these symptoms. However, it is always advisable to consult a doctor in order to prevent further complications such as permanent vision loss.