![]() ![]() FloatersĮye floaters occur when the vitreous gel thickens or shrinks due to aging, causing particles to form in the gel. Eye floaters and flashes are caused by changes in the vitreous gel that occur as we get older. Our eyes are filled with a clear gel known as the vitreous humor, which helps the eyeball keep its shape while allowing light to pass through to the retina the retina is located on the eye's back wall and contains nerve cells that perceive visual signals from light. If not treated quickly, a detached retina could cost you your eyesight. If so, you are one of many people who have experienced the common vision phenomenon known as eye floaters and flashes.įloaters and flashes are a normal part of the aging process, usually occurring after age 50, per the Cleveland Clinic, and most of the time, they’re not considered a medical problem.īut a rapid onset of many eye floaters and flashes could indicate that a retinal tear has occurred, and a tear in the retina can lead to a retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency. What is commonly referred to as an ophthalmic or ocular migraine is actually the aura of a more typical migraine, often without the headache component.Have you ever spotted a small speck, dot, or squiggle floating in the air, only to have it flit away when you tried to look at it directly? Or have you noticed flickering lights or lightning streaks that you knew weren't really there? If you are labeled as having one of these, be sure that you understand which specific condition applies to you. The terms “ophthalmic”, “ocular”, and “retinal” migraines are often used interchangeably and sometimes inappropriately. Treatment, including medicines designed to prevent future attacks, is available for frequent ophthalmic migraines, particularly if a headache is a part of the symptom complex. By keeping a journal of your diet and activities it may be possible to identify something that consistently triggers the migraine, offering an opportunity to avoid the precipitating factor. Since they can adversely affect driving or performing certain tasks, it is best to stop these activities and relax during an episode. Is treatment available for ophthalmic migraines? Because they generally are harmless and typically resolve on their own, ophthalmic migraines usually require no treatment. When should a doctor be consulted? Since it can be difficult for someone who is experiencing unusual visual symptoms for the first time to know whether they are related to a benign or serious condition, it is a good idea to see an eye specialist for evaluation. In contrast to the ophthalmic migraine, the visual symptoms associated with the retinal migraine affects only one eye and can cause temporary blindness. While they can temporarily interfere with activities such as driving or reading, they are not considered to be serious. Characteristically these visual symptoms affect both eyes, last around a half hour and resolve on their own. How serious is an ophthalmic migraine? Often someone with an ophthalmic migraine will have just the visual warning signs or aura of their migraine attack without the headache. In the classic migraine the aura precedes the development of the typical symptoms-one-sided headache, nausea, light sensitivity, etc. Seeing an enlarging blind spot (scotoma) in the center of the visual field.Seeing flashing or flickering lights (scintillations).In the case of ophthalmic migraine, the aura will be visual in nature and may be described as: What is an aura? Some migraines are preceded by sensory warning symptoms called auras. Migraine sufferers have different triggers or precipitating factors for their headaches, such as fatigue, bright lights, weather changes, and others. At one time migraines were thought to be caused by constriction of blood vessels but more recent research involving the use of imaging studies indicates that there may be actual structural changes involving the white matter of the brain. What is a migraine? Migraine is a common neurological disorder usually associated with one-sided, throbbing headache. Today’s Health Tip deals with the more common and possibly misnamed ophthalmic or ocular migraine. This condition is distinguished from a classic migraine in which a headache is a predominant symptom, and the far less common and more serious condition known as a “retinal migraine”. ![]() Popularly referred to as “ophthalmic” or “ocular” migraines, this common condition primarily causes visual symptoms and has the official classification from the International Headache Society of “ancephalgic migraine with aura.” Ancephalgic means that there is no headache and the term aura refers to the visual symptoms experienced.
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