Ocular Migraine Causes, Diagnosing and Treatment

Ocular Migraine Causes

Experts aren't sure what causes ocular migraines. Some feel that the problem is related to:
Spasms in blood vessels in the retina. That's the delicate lining in the back of the eye.
Changes that spread across the nerve cells in the retina.

People who have these migraines may have a higher risk of developing permanent vision loss in one eye. Experts don't know if preventive treatments for migraines -- such as tricyclic antidepressants or anti-seizure medications -- can help prevent permanent vision loss. However, it's wise to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

Diagnosing Ocular Migraine

To diagnose ocular migraine, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine your eyes. The doctor will try to rule out other problems that could be causing similar effects. These include:

- Amaurosis fugax. This is temporary blindness due to lack of blood flow to the eye. The symptoms can be due to a blockage in an artery leading to the eye.

- Spasms in the artery that supplies the retina with blood.

- Giant cell arteritis. This causes inflammation in blood vessels. It can lead to vision problems and blindness.
- Other blood vessel problems related to autoimmune diseases.

- Drug abuse.

- Conditions that encourage abnormal blood clotting. These include sickle celldisease and polycythemia.

Ocular Migraine Treatment

There's been little research to determine the best course of medications to treat or prevent ocular migraines. However, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following drugs:

- Aspirin

- Drugs used to treat epilepsy, such as Depakote (divalproex sodium) or Topamax(topiramate).

- Tricyclic antidepressants, such as Elavil (amitriptyline) or Pamelor (nortriptyline).

- Beta-blockers