If you’re experiencing visual loss in one eye, seek medical treatment to prevent any permanent sight loss. 3 Retinal migraines are considered a medical emergency as they might indicate an underlying health condition. Retinal migraines are rarer than migraines with aura, as they affect one out of every 200 migraine patients. 1,2 Retinal migraine symptoms are more intrusive than migraine aura symptoms, and episodes can reoccur throughout the day and last from five to 20 minutes. Unlike a migraine with aura, retinal migraines only affect one eye. Symptoms of a retinal migraine include seeing twinkling lights, diminished vision, or temporary blindness. 2 Retinal MigraineĪ retinal migraine is a rare, serious condition that precedes or accompanies other migraine symptoms. However, 20% of patients with migraine auras report having symptoms that last over an hour.

2 The symptoms are temporary and typically last around 30 minutes. Around one in five people who get migraines have migraines with aura, and only 20% of those individuals report having a migraine aura with every attack. Migraines with aura are not typically a cause for concern. Migraine auras usually occur before the peak of the headache, but some patients report experiencing them after their headaches. 3 A migraine aura can occur with or without a headache, and sometimes signals an oncoming headache. These sensations can include changes in taste, smell, or touch mental fog and numbness or tingling in your body. 1Ī migraine with aura sometimes includes physical sensations that affect your speech, motor skills, and central nervous system. 2,3 These symptoms are typically minor, but they can impact your ability to do visual activities like driving or reading. The symptoms of a migraine with aura include minor sight issues, such as seeing stars, patterns, blind spots, flashes of light, shimmering spots, psychedelic images, or zigzagging patterns. 1 Migraine with AuraĪ migraine with aura typically causes visual distortions in both eyes. A migraine with aura usually isn’t serious, but a retinal migraine could necessitate a trip to the doctor. Migraine with aura, or migraine aura, and retinal migraines are two different types of ocular migraines. 1 Learn the difference between the two to help you treat your symptoms effectively. 1 The term “ocular migraine” can be confusing as it is often used interchangeably with the different types of ocular migraine: migraine aura and retinal migraines. It’s common for patients to experience a range of visual disturbances, and in some cases, visual disturbances occur without the head pain characteristic of a headache. Symptoms include losing your vision and seeing zig-zag lines, blind spots, or stars. “Ocular migraine” is an umbrella term for two different types of headaches that cause visual disturbances.

Mayo clinic migraine with aura