I don’t how many of you have ever heard of an ocular migraine, sometimes referred to as an aura migraine, but take it from me, they are weird.
About 10 minutes after I finished my power walk this morning (“power” being a very relative term in this instance), I started getting an ocular migraine. For the last 30 years I have been experiencing these about 3-4 times a year. To say it is a strange sensation is the proverbial understatement.
It starts with a small partial loss of vision. Eventually the partial vision block widens but does not obscure total sight. Mainly it is just annoying. It only appears on one side of the vision field (even though it is happening simultaneously in both eyes). In my case, it is the left side, but it can be the right side for others. The illustrations in the slideshow below below will give you an excellent idea of how the vision field may appear for me during these episodes. It varies greatly and is never the same each time. They can be in all shapes.
The most foreign thing is the flashing. The jagged edges are always blinking like a neon sign. When closing the eyes, the images normally appear black and white. However, if I am outside and it’s a bright sunny day, the images will be in full color. The one this morning was in the shape of an arrowhead with the edges flashing white and the inner part a solid ruby red. They can be spectacular!
Before you start speculating, I have never taken an illegal drug in my life, not even marijuana. You didn’t know I was so sheltered did you? I think my brain just decided that since I live such a boring life, it needed to provide me with some kind of entertainment.
In my case, these auras last for exactly 20 minutes. The duration differs for each person. Oddly, I do not have a headache with these although that is not true for everyone. They do not debilitate me in any way while they are happening but I do have to rest afterward because they make me quite tired. When I get actual migraine headaches (rarely) they do not come with an aura. Go figure?!
Medically, they are not particularly dangerous unless total vision loss should occur. There is a slight increase in the chance of stroke for persons with this condition. Research has found it can be genetic within families but then, what isn’t?
This music link will give you and even better idea of the experience.
Anyone out there with their own story of odd medical occurrences?
Have a great aura free day everyone!
The Cvillean 