What should you know about visual migraine?

Changes may affect both eyes and develop gradually, then clear as the episode settles. Some people also experience Headache, Light Sensitivity, Nausea, Dizziness or Vomiting. A visual disturbance in one eye, a first or unusually different episode, or symptoms that do not clear needs medical assessment because other eye or neurological problems can look similar. Keeping a record of timing, triggers, duration and accompanying symptoms can help a clinician identify the pattern.

Stop driving and move somewhere calm with softer lighting. Rest your eyes, drink water if you can, and follow any migraine plan already given to you. Avoid taking repeated pain medicines without advice, as frequent use can contribute to more headaches. A clinician can review triggers such as missed meals, poor sleep, stress or bright light and discuss treatment suited to your symptoms.

Call emergency services for sudden severe headache, new weakness or numbness, facial drooping, confusion, fainting, trouble speaking or a sudden loss of vision. Seek urgent assessment for a visual change in one eye, new double vision, eye pain, symptoms after injury, or an episode that persists or keeps worsening. Do not drive yourself if vision or neurological symptoms are affecting you.

Do my visual symptoms fit migraine, or should my eyes and nervous system be checked? What should I do if the pattern changes? Which treatment is suitable for future episodes?