Ocular migraines, while not very common, can be painful for those who suffer from them.  Ocular migraines, which are sometimes called visual or retinol migraines, may cause vision loss or blindness in one eye for a short period of time.  This can seem severe or dangerous, so you will want to visit a doctor if you suffer from frequent ocular migraines.  Be sure to immediately stop what you are doing and rest until you regain full vision.  You will want to schedule a prompt visit to an eye doctor in Orlando so they can check your eyesight and recommend prevention and treatments if you continue to suffer from anymore migraines.  We recommend a few techniques to prevent ocular migraines from occurring.

Avoid Triggers

Many environmental triggers can cause an ocular migraine to occur.  It is important to be aware of common triggers so then you can adjust your lifestyle and avoid them entirely.  Environmental triggers include smoking, excessive heat, hormonal birth control pills, and dehydration.  Avoid situations that involve these elements and you’ll likely see a decrease in your migraines.  Internal triggers include stress, high blood pressure, and exercise.  By avoiding situations that cause these internal symptoms, you can decrease your chance of getting an ocular migraine.

Eat the Right Foods

Often times, the foods we eat can trigger ocular migraines.  This is an easy problem to fix by simply adjusting your diet to include healthier foods.  We recommend that you avoid caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners, as these commonly lead to migraines.  If you aren’t sure which one affects you the most, start by removing one of these foods at a time.  Notice if there is any difference in the frequency of your migraine, and then add another food to the restricted list.  Over time, you should notice a decrease in your ocular migraines.

Treat with Medications

When you have removed environmental, internal, and dietary triggers and haven’t noticed any difference in the frequency of your ocular migraines, it is time to consult with your eye doctor to seek treatments and medication recommendations.  Typically, calcium-channel blockers, such as Cardene and Calan, will help alleviate the symptoms of an ocular migraine by opening up your blood vessels.  If these don’t work, you can try aspirin to help you with the symptoms of an ocular headache.  When these both fail, you want to see what other more involved treatments to help with your migraines.

Ocular migraines may be painful, but they are often preventable using one of the above strategies.  By implementing these changes, you should see desirable results.  If you continue to suffer from these migraines, contact your eye doctor today.  As an eye doctor in Orlando, Eyes of Winter Park provides exceptional patient care.  Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert eye doctors.

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