Pain Relief for Ocular Migraines

Ocular migraines—often called retinal migraines—are a rarer type of migraine that causes visual disturbances in one eye. They are more common in women than men and can cause a variety of symptoms, including a headache. 

Pain relief for ocular migraines ranges from over-the-counter (OTC) medication to prescription drugs and medical devices.

Managing Ocular Migraines

• Non-drug pain relief for ocular migraines
• Medical and drug pain relief for ocular migraines

Non-drug pain relief for ocular migraines

There are some physical actions you can take to a) reduce the frequency of having ocular migraines and b) help reduce the symptoms when one occurs.

If they happen a lot, taking steps to reduce the frequency is key. This can include:

• Keeping a diary to identify triggers.
• If you smoke or vape, try to give up.
• Reduce alcohol intake.
• Avoid any foods that you identify as a trigger.
• Reducing stress levels—perhaps through exercise, meditation, deep breathing exercises, and a healthy sleep pattern.
• Incorporate leafy greens, nuts, pulses, and seeds into your diet.
• Ensure you drink enough water (dehydration is thought to be a trigger).
• Avoid high-sugar foods—the peaks and troughs caused by a high sugar diet can be a factor, as low blood sugar might also trigger the condition.
• Control hypertension (take advice from your general physician if this applies to you).
• If you take birth control pills, consider a different method of contraception. Again, this is a possible trigger but, once again, talk to your physician before making any sudden changes.

It can help to stay out of direct light when an ocular migraine occurs. Massaging your head and a cool forehead compress can be nice and, very importantly, stop screen use as soon as symptoms begin.

Medical and drug pain relief for ocular migraines

When an ocular migraine strikes, early use of OTC pain relief is often required. Good choices include:

• Acetaminophen.
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
• Aspirin.
• Excedrin Migraine (a combination medication that contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine).

If you suffer frequent attacks, your physician might consider the use of other drugs, such as:

• Epilepsy medication: valproic acid or topiramate.
• Antidepressants: venlafaxine or amitriptyline.
• Hypertension medication: beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers.
• Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist (CGRP inhibitors): A new type of drug produced specifically for treating migraines.

There are some medical devices that show promise in reducing the pain and symptoms of ocular migraines.

• Nerivio: an electric neuromodulation device. It’s attached to the upper arm and is used as soon as symptoms are felt.
• sTMS Mini: another remote device that’s used at the start of an ocular migraine. When held to the back of the head it sends pulses to the area of the brain responsible for the symptoms.

There are also two devices that can be used daily to help prevent ocular migraines. They can also be used when the first symptoms start.

• Cefalys: used daily for 20 minutes, the tool sends signals to stimulate the largest of the cranial nerves—the trigeminal nerve— that’s associated with migraines. It’s a headband that, when worn, creates a gentle massage or tingling sensation.
• gammaCore: another cranial nerve is targeted with this stimulator, the vagus nerve. It should be used twice a day—once on waking and just before you go to bed—for two minutes at a time. When held against the neck, it stimulates the nerve with a mild electrical impulse.

Worried About Ocular Migraines? Contact the West Boca Eye Center Today

The first time you have an ocular migraine is a frightening experience. The symptoms of visual disturbances, temporary vision loss, nausea, and headache often lead many people to think they’re having a stroke. Of course, if this is the case you should seek urgent medical help—it’s important not to self-diagnose.

However, the symptoms of ocular migraine can be similar to a variety of eye-related conditions, including retinal detachment. If you have any concerns about your eye health, it’s vital to get it checked out.

Head to https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/ for more information and call us today for advice.

Ocular migraines—often called retinal migraines—are a rarer type of migraine that causes visual disturbances in one eye. They are more common in women than men and can cause a variety of symptoms, including a headache.