![]() ![]() Overall, migraines are more common in women than in men. A positive family history is very common, so the doctor will often ask about headaches in one’s parents or siblings. It is often possible to identify certain risk factors that increase the chance of having migraines. Beyond these hypotheses, however, the exact mechanism that triggers a migraine remains unknown. The pain of a migraine headache probably relates to spasm or irritability of blood vessels in the brain, which are sensitive to pain (unlike the brain tissue itself, which does not have pain receptors). It appears likely that the visual aura relates to a phenomenon called “cortical spreading depression” which temporarily affects electrical impulses in the brain. ![]() What causes a migraine?Īlthough migraines are extremely common, their exact cause remains unknown. Except for the absence of a headache, the visual symptoms in acephalgic migraine are identical to the episodes that accompany a classic migraine aura. The medical term for this is “acephalgic migraine,” which literally means migraine symptoms without headache. It is actually very common to have a visual migraine without any headache. Can I have a visual migraine without a headache?ĭefinitely. An episode of visual darkness typically requires additional evaluation for other conditions, including a “mini-stroke” (a TIA, or transient ischemic attack). Migraines are less likely to cause "negative" symptoms of pure visual darkness. The typical symptoms of a visual migraine are “positive,” meaning that there is something shimmering or sparkling that is disrupting the vision. What are the 'red flags' that my visual symptoms are not due to migraine? The intensity of the headache may range from mild to severe. The headache lasts several hours and is accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. In a typical migraine, a throbbing headache quickly follows the visual symptoms. ![]() The area where vision is disrupted is known as a ‘scotoma’ and the whole episode is often referred to as an ‘aura.’ The visual symptoms typically last approximately 20-30 minutes and then completely resolve. The growing spot often has jagged, zig-zag edges. A visual migraine is a temporary visual distortion that often begins with a small sparkling, shimmering area that slowly expands outward. ![]()
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