0ptic migraine

Yes....I get them. Very frightening at the time, with tunnel vision and as you said, vivid black/white zig zags. Don't get much warning. They're quite rare for me, I've had three over the last 30ish years - each time coincided with a stressful time of my life.

I have had one or two a week for a while - not as bad as normal migraines. They seem to focus on my left eye - which incidently has higher pressure (no glaucoma in the family) I have been referred to the eye hospital.

Yes , I get them.. called an "aura" .. my optometrist explained that they are the visual part of a migraine with no pain. Not nice when you get one that's for sure but they usually only last around 15 - 20 minutes.. gradually fade off to the side. Can go years and not have one, then get two on the trot !

I get them on a regular basis every few months. When I get one I know I'm going to get another four or five during the next few days. Starts with a tiny distortion in whatever I'm looking at and a zigzagging area gradually increases until I have a blurry blind spot which slowly disappears. All over within half an hour and no headache but I feel muzzy for a short while. The only pain from it is if sometime later I lean down and I get a brief sharp pain over one eye.
I used to get a full blown migraine on a very rare occasion when younger but the events I've described have only happened since the menopause and friends have found the same.
Eye tests haven't shown up a problem.

Hi, I used to get them when I was in my 20’s and was dealing with the stress of my lovely mother dying.

I got zig zags in my vision and then lost the sight in one eye. The following headache was so severe, it made me vomit.
I remember feeling as though I must be having a brain haemorrhage and that it would be impossible to survive pain of such magnitude. (I realise that sounds dramatic but that is how it felt).

In time the migraines subsided and eventually stopped. My doctor did advise me that the visual disturbances and temporary vision loss, were not serious.

I wish you better... ?

I get them and had the first one in my teens. Frightened me considerably! I tend to get clusters and once I have one get one after the other for a week to ten days. Just coming out of one of those times. Had a very different symptom this time. Could not raise either of my arms for a few moments. That really frightened me as it was a new symptom.

I had my first one when DD was a baby, and it was frightening. Don't get them very often now, but had one the other day, I'm sure it was because I'm getting worried about the corona virus.

Yes, I get the visuals with no pain(touch wood). Mine are coloured zigzags sort of golden colours.

Yup, had them as a teenager and have had one or two in recent years.

The excruciating one sided pain lasts up to 24 hours and I have photophobia and nausea

Sort of pleased that I am not the only one. I had my first attack last Wednesday, I had had a headache for a couple of days before and when these psychedelic shapes came on with blurred vision for 30 mins I was very worried. I contacted the ophthalmologist but I couldn’t get an appointment for 10 days, now that is off the cards

Oh M0nica that sounds awful. Mine aren't anywhere near that bad. I do find them alarming and a bit scary. I have had a couple in the last few days. I wondered if all this Corona anxiety might have caused them. Thank you all for replying. I am glad to know I am not on my own.

My son gets them sometimes,i think it's stress related,he had a bad one last week, when he said everything he looked at looked green,it was quite painful this time

I used to have classic migraines with tunnel vision, extreme head pain and vomiting. I just had to climb into bed but they'd be over by the following morning.

Since the menopause, however, I have optic ones - not too bad at all as they only last about 20 minutes! I get a zigzag semi-circular flashing rainbow across my vision. Whichever eye I close, it's still there.

I can't see very well and it slowly drifts across my field of vision until I can see again.

Both types of migraine are pretty random but any flashing lights at all (TV/other screens sun through the trees, journeys, Christmas lights - can definitely set them off!

I get them and very unpleasant they are too although I haven't had one for a while. I make sure I always have the pink 'migraleve' tablets in the house and they always do the trick.

I've had a couple of headaches over the last few days and I think you're right Lizbethann, it's general anxiety about the Corona Virus.

Yes I get them, and first had one in my 50's.

If I can shut my eyes and sit quietly for roughly 30 mins, it goes away.

Recently they seem to come on if I am on my IPad for too long a time.

Like others I can go months without any, then they come in a cluster

For anyone who gets migraines I can recommend lorezepam - puts you to sleep and when you wake up it is over. GP happy to see them used in this way - I only have them once a year or so. Any other treatment does not touch it. The lorezepam actually does nothing directly for the migraine - it just means that you sleep while it is happening!

Do make sure that your screen refresh rate is set to the highest and also limit screen session times:

www.whitworth.edu/cms/media/whitworth/documents/administration/educational-support-services/tips-for-heavy-computer-users.pdf

Juliet27 you describe the migraines I have exactly, except that mine are often followed by a headache and leave me very tired and with a stiff neck. Mine are triggered by light, tiredness and stress. As I've had five since December I saw a GP recently , who sent me for blood tests but these revealed only a shortage of vit B12. A neurologist my DH once consulted recommended taking magnesium for migraines.
Lizbethann55 they are scary but an optometrist told me to just enjoy the pretty lights!

I get these often lizbethann . Mine are those horrible zig zag /frost pattern illusions . They gradually get bigger and bigger until I am forced to lie down. They come in mostly when I am stressed .

I used to get these when my hormones were fluctuating - notably around puberty and during pregnancy, with the aura and tunnel vision, followed by the dreadful headache and vomiting
The rest of the time, up until the menopause, I got frequent migraines but mostly limited to headache and nausea.

The only good thing for me to have come out of the menopause is that migraines are now a very rare occurance!

Just to mention, my dad started getting the migraine auras in his late 60s/70s, but that was his only symptom. It scared him when they first started, as I thing he suspected it might something much more sinister.

Yes, I get them but have never heard them referred to as optic migraines. As soon as I get the zig-zags or black holes, I take strong painkillers and when the headache comes it is bearable and doesn't last long. I think they are linked with stress. When I was working full-time They would come on a Saturday when I had an opportunity to wind down.

My husband gets these as well sometimes several times a week then nothing for a few weeks. Fortunately his headache is not severe. He has been seen by an opthalmologist and an optician and they say there is no cause for concern. Sometimes it's triggered by bright sunlight especially if he is driving. It's worth investing in good quality sunglasses.

Yes had them for ages in fact I've got one now! They last about 20 mins getting worse till I have trouble reading but no headache. I found out what they were by googling. Must close my eyes now!

I read an article that statins can increase the incidence of these migraines and certainly mine have been more regular since taking them. Anyone else?