Ocular migraine: What causes it?

What causes an ocular migraine — a migraine aura without the headache? Is it a sign of something serious?

- No name / No state given

Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist Dennis Robertson, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Usually, an ocular migraine is not cause for concern. But ocular migraine symptoms can interfere with daily activities, such as reading and driving. These episodes, also called migraine aura or optical migraine, occur without a headache and are relatively common. During an ocular migraine, you may see:

Flashes of light
Zigzagging patterns
Blind spots
Shimmering spots or stars

No one knows exactly what causes ocular migraines. In some people, it's related to eating certain foods such as chocolate, nuts, shellfish or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Others may have ocular migraine episodes brought on by caffeine or alcohol. Some believe that tension and fatigue are linked to this condition, but researchers have not found a consistent link.

It's possible that you may have several ocular migraine episodes in a short interval of time, and then not experience any for months or even years before experiencing additional episodes. If ocular migraines persist, worsen or become accompanied by a migraine headache, talk to your doctor to seek appropriate treatment for your condition.

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