Migraine and vision

We have had a number of enquiries recently from people with migraine. Vision and migraine are intrinsically linked; cause, correlate and consequence. The visual consequences of migraine are best understood; the migraine aura ( those zig zag flashing lights and blobs that effect both eyes but more to one side of your vision than the other, starting centrally but pass off to the edges within half an hour or so) sometimes leading to persistent visual field defects. Correlates are also becoming better known, refractive error, defective binocular vision and pattern glare. Causes are much less well proven and perhaps those patients that gain the most benefit from optometric interventions to migraine are those whose co-morbid ocular conditions are relieved. So optometric interventions can really help, new glasses, eye exercises or coloured filters. They reduce your eye strain and allow you to feel visually more comfortable. And the more comfortable you are the better you’ll manage when and if your migraine comes.

Leave a Reply