Eye Migraines
They're commonly called eye migraines, but they're actually a group of different types of migraine. Often these migraines are called ocular migraines [or occular], ophthalmic migraines, silent migraine, acephalgic migraine, and even ophthalmoplegic 'migraines'. Confused? With good reason! Most of these terms are out dated, and sometimes defined in very different ways!
The term ocular migraine (sometimes spelled occular migriane) is another one that is no longer generally used. Most often in the past it has referred to retinal migraine, a rare type of migraine that has severe visual disturbances or blindness in one eye during an attack. Sometimes the term has also been used to describe other types of migraine that have visual auras, such as the much more common migraine with aura.
These have been called a rare type of migraine, though researchers now believe it's not technically a migraine at all. The headache is usually severe, and is accompanied by weakness in one or more of the eye muscles. Because of the decreased eye movement, you may experience temporary (less than 2 hours) double vision, drooping eyelid, or dilated pupil. Most often this problem is diagnosed in children.
Basilar migraines are not strictly just “eye migraines”, but the eye symptoms are often quite obvious and severe. These symptoms include a visual aura but also eye twitching, a graying out visually or even temporary partial blindness, vertigo, dizziness and more. This type of migraine is rare, but has some concerns of its own, so we have another article with all the details. Read here about basilar migraines and the unique problems that come with them.
Sore eyes??
Migraine ‘doubles heart attack risk’
Migraine sufferers are more likely to have heart attacks, a new study claims.
The study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been published in the February 10 online issue of Neurology.
The study also found that migraine sufferers face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
"Migraine has been viewed as a painful condition that affects quality of life, but not as a threat to people''s overall health," said lead investigator Richard B. Lipton, M.D., senior author of the study and professor and vice chair in The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology at Einstein. He also directs the Headache Center at Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for Einstein.
Dr. Lipton added, "Our study suggests that migraine is not an isolated disorder and that, when caring for people with migraine, we should also be attentive to detecting and treating their cardiovascular risk factors."
There are two major forms, migraine without aura and migraine with aura. Both forms involve pulsing or throbbing pain, pain on one side of the head, nausea or g, or sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine with aura has additional neurological symptoms including flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or a graying out of vision. Migraine is most common between the ages of 25 and 55; women are affected three times more frequently than men.
In the study, the researchers analyzed data on 6,102 people with migraine and 5,243 people without migraine.
The study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been published in the February 10 online issue of Neurology.
The study also found that migraine sufferers face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have key risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
"Migraine has been viewed as a painful condition that affects quality of life, but not as a threat to people''s overall health," said lead investigator Richard B. Lipton, M.D., senior author of the study and professor and vice chair in The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology at Einstein. He also directs the Headache Center at Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for Einstein.
Dr. Lipton added, "Our study suggests that migraine is not an isolated disorder and that, when caring for people with migraine, we should also be attentive to detecting and treating their cardiovascular risk factors."
There are two major forms, migraine without aura and migraine with aura. Both forms involve pulsing or throbbing pain, pain on one side of the head, nausea or g, or sensitivity to light or sound. Migraine with aura has additional neurological symptoms including flashing lights, zig-zag lines, or a graying out of vision. Migraine is most common between the ages of 25 and 55; women are affected three times more frequently than men.
In the study, the researchers analyzed data on 6,102 people with migraine and 5,243 people without migraine.
