Ocular Migraines
A really interesting and concerning visual phenomenon that I see in my office is the manifestations of a vision migraine. Patient s typically present with a complaint of zig zag, prismatic, kaleidoscope vision lasting from 5-20 minutes. The rainbow pattern typically starts as a small zone and grows then breaks up. Usually no other symptoms occur. Patients deny head pain, nausea, and loss of memory, numbness, and speech problems. Commonly there is a bit of feeling washed out or a little bit confused right afterwards.
The cause is a migraine process that occurs in the back half of the brain where the vision center is located. In a typical (painful) migraine blood vessels that course up the neck into the front part of the brain are wrapped with nerve endings like a fish net stocking on a leg. When the blood vessels undergo a spasm, the nerve endings are stimulated and the pounding pain results. In the vision area, the blood vessels are not wrapped by nerves therefore, when they spasm, an equivalent occurs – the visual phenomenon (a pain substitute).
The cause of migraines (regular and visual type) may be stress, medications, and certain foods. There is treatment: avoiding the offending substance, and stress reduction.
Evaluation is very important. Similar symptoms could also occur in a stroke, detached retina, or aneurysm. My best advice is to seek professional help. Start at your eye doctor’s office for a good eye exam to look for any problems. If the eyes are OK then I recommend a neurology consultation for further evaluation and treatment options.
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