User:Mr. Ibrahem/Retinal migraine

Retinal migraine
Other names	Ophthalmic migraine, ocular migraine, ophthalmic megrim, anterior visual pathway migraine
Example of a scintillating scotoma that some may experience
Specialty	Neurology, ophthalmology
Symptoms	Episodes of vision problems, headache
Complications	Permanent vision loss
Duration	Less than an hour
Causes	Unclear
Risk factors	Stress, smoking, high blood pressure, birth control pills, exercise, high altitude, dehydration, low blood sugar, dehydration
Differential diagnosis	Migraine with aura, increase intracranial pressure, amaurosis fugax, optic neuritis, giant cell arteritis
Treatment	Avoiding risk factors, nifedipine, aspirin
Frequency	Rare

Retinal migraine is a type of headache disorder with episodes of vision problems in one eye followed by a migraine headache. Vision problems may vary from a complete loss, to blurring, to flashing lights, to a scotoma and typically last less than an hour. Most people develop a headache on the same side as the vision problems. Complications may include permanent vision loss.

Half of those affected have a family history of migraines and a third have a personal history of migraines. Risk factors for an episode include stress, smoking, high blood pressure, birth control pills, exercise, high altitude, dehydration, low blood sugar, and dehydration. The underlying mechanism is unclear with theories including spasm of blood vessels supplying the eye and spreading depression of the neurons in the retina. Diagnosis requires ruling out other possible causes. It is differentiated from the aura during the early phase of a migraine with aura, as that generally occurs in both eyes.

Management involves avoiding risk factors for episodes. If this is not sufficient, aspirin or a calcium channel blocker, such as nifedipine may be used. Triptans, dihydroergotamine, and beta-blockers should be avoided. Retinal migraine is rare. While cases may start as early as 7 years of age, most people are first affected in their 20s. It occurs more commonly in women. The condition was first described in 1882 by Galezowski.