ocular migraine : discover important ocular and sinus headache advice

An ocular migraine predominately affects eyesight, and may be present with or without a headache. Ocular migraines usually affect only one eye at a time, and include image distortion, which generally begins in the center of the image and then moves to one side or the other. Images may "grey out" or look wavy, and sight may be temporarily lost.


While 80 percent of typical migraine sufferers do not experience any issues with their eyes, otherwise known as “aura”, there are a few people who experience aura without the actual headache itself. However, if a headache follows an aura, it usually does so within an hour. Most migraine sufferers who experience auras will have the same types of symptoms with each migraine attack.

Ocular migraine is defined differently by different physicians. Many times migraine sufferers will have just the visual warning signs or aura of their migraine attack without the headache. This occurs more frequently as one gets older and can be a frightening phenomenon. This is also referred to as acephalgic migraine, or migraine aura without headache. Some physicians refer to ocular migraine as retinal migraine, where there are repeated attacks of one-sided blind spots or blindness lasting less than an hour and associated with a headache.

Sinus headaches can have ocular migraine symptoms, but may not result in a full-blown ocular migraine headache. A sinus headache is a headache that occurs because your sinuses are congested with mucus and bacteria. The sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones of your face which connect with the nose through small openings. Like the nose, they are lined with membranes that make mucus, which then drains through the small openings to the nose.


Usually, sinus headache pain is due to swelling in the sinus cavities around the nose and eyes. Sinus headaches are often caused by allergies or infections, and may be simultaneous with other symptoms such as fever, stuffy nose, or toothaches.

Sinus headaches cause a dull, deep, or severe pain in the front of your head and face. They are caused by an inflammation in the passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. Bending down, lying down, or leaning over often make the pain worse, as do cold and damp weather. Sinus headaches are often at their worst morning, but improve by afternoon or early evening.

*Information taken from www.neurology.health-cares.net

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