{"id":9158,"date":"2020-12-20T12:53:06","date_gmt":"2020-12-20T12:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=9158"},"modified":"2021-08-11T10:19:53","modified_gmt":"2021-08-11T10:19:53","slug":"headaches-and-migraines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-blurry-vision-and-headaches\/visual-migraines\/headaches-and-migraines\/","title":{"rendered":"Headaches and Migraines\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 15 percent of adults in the U.S. complain of severe headaches or migraines.<\/b><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s the difference between a headache and migraine?<\/p>\n

Headaches<\/b><\/h2>\n

A headache is described as an achy pressure in the temples, forehead, or even the upper neck.<\/b><\/p>\n

The pain from a headache can be mild to severe and last anywhere from 10 minutes to several days.<\/p>\n

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. A tension headache feels like your head is being squeezed by a tight headband and is usually accompanied by eye pain as well.<\/p>\n

Migraines<\/b><\/h2>\n

A migraine is a severe headache that generally causes more debilitating symptoms, such as difficulty speaking or thinking clearly.<\/b><\/p>\n

Migraines are usually felt on one side of the face or head, and the pain can last for several hours to several days. Migraines may also be accompanied by numbness and tingling in the limbs or extremities, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.<\/p>\n

Around 25 percent of migraine sufferers also experience visual disturbances<\/a> such as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or blind spots, also known as a visual aura.<\/b><\/p>\n

Visual auras typically warn of an oncoming migraine and last around one hour.<\/p>\n

A visual aura can present in three different ways:<\/p>\n

Positive visual aura<\/b><\/h2>\n

A positive visual aura causes you to see something that isn\u2019t actually there, such as colorful squiggly lines, flashes, stars, or dots that can be stationary or move around your visual field or grow larger.<\/p>\n

A visual hallucination is another type of positive visual aura.<\/p>\n

Negative visual aura<\/b><\/h2>\n

A negative visual aura causes dark patches in your vision, such as blind spots, loss of peripheral vision, or even temporary total vision loss.<\/p>\n

A<\/b>ltered visual aura<\/b><\/h2>\n

An altered visual aura causes kaleidoscope vision, or visual distortions that lead you to perceive straight lines as wavy or blurred, or large objects as small objects. Altered visual auras can also distort distance and color perception.<\/p>\n

If you experience any of these visual disturbances, seek immediate medical attention to rule out a serious eye or medical conditions.<\/p>\n

If you suffer with migraines contact an eye doctor<\/a> near you, who can discuss the optimum treatment options for any visual causes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SEE RELATED: <\/strong>Migraine and Visual Auras<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t

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Find a Vision Therapy Eye Doctor Near You<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t
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