Why Am I Suddenly Getting Ocular Migraines? A Harvard MD Has the Answers—and Simple Treatments

You’re going about your normal day (and by normal, we mean juggling 100 to-dos!) when bam, out of nowhere you see stars—and we don’t mean the good kind, like Taylor Swift or Harry Styles. Visual symptoms like auras or flashing lights, may be signs of an ocular migraine. If you’re wondering, “Why am I suddenly getting ocular migraines?” keep reading for the answers, as well as the doctor-approved treatments.

What is an ocular migraine?

This type of migraine is caused by what’s known as “cortical spreading depression” in the brain. And, unlike a traditional migraine headache, it isn’t always painful, says Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Lavine Family Distinguished Chair in neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and author of The Migraine Brain. 

Visual disturbances known as auras can last five to 60 minutes. “Other visual disturbances include seeing sparkles, scintillations or glowing zigzags and scotoma, a blind spot or hole in the middle of your vision,” she adds.

While vision problems are telltale symptoms of an ocular migraine, a migraine aura may affect you in other ways. “You might have sensory numbness on half of your body or trouble finding words,” reveals Dr. Bernstein, adding that these symptoms may be mistaken for signs of a stroke. She recalls the high-profile case of TV reporter Serene Branson, who began slurring her speech live on air while reporting from the Grammy Awards in 2011.

“Viewers thought she was having a stroke, but it was a migraine aura, and she has become a great spokesperson for migraines,” says Dr. Bernstein. But since symptoms of stroke and migraine aura can be similar, she says anyone with new neurologic symptoms should seek treatment right away.

To learn more about Serene Branson’s experience with migraine aura, just check out her interview with CBS below:

Why am I suddenly getting ocular migraines?

Here, Dr. Bernstein reveals a few reasons you might suddenly be getting ocular migraines:

An abrupt change to the body

In short, any unexpected shift can bring on an ocular migraine, she says. “Your period may change when you hit perimenopause, for example, or you may get a poor night’s sleep.” She adds that adjusting to different time zones when you’re traveling and being under “tremendous stress” are also common triggers.

Dehydration

Not getting enough fluids can lead to an ocular migraine. One primary cause of dehydration—drinking alcohol—is another potential cuplrit,  Dr. Bernstein points out.

Contraception

“If you get ocular migraines, avoid contraception containing estrogen,” she cautions. Indeed, a study in Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology showed that women on oral contraceptives who experience migraines with aura, are four times more likely to have worse headaches than women who have migraines without aura.

Bending over

Reaching down to the floor to pick up something you’ve dropped, like your rogue eyeglasses, might trigger an ocular migraine. That’s in part because bending may lead to a sudden shift of the pressure in your skull.

Fluorescent lights

Need another reason to hate the infamously unflattering lights? Their flickering and bright glare have been shown to trigger ocular migraines.

High blood pressure

A study in the journal Neurology found a correlation (though not causation) between menopausal women with migraines and high blood pressure.

What doesn’t cause sudden ocular migraines?

One migraine myth Dr. Bernstein wants to bust: food isn’t the trigger you may think it is. “It’s been said that cheese and wine can cause ocular migraines, but there’s no science to back that up,” she explains.

How to prevent ocular migraines

Dr. Bernstein shares a few effective ocular migraine treatment options that can help reduce the number of flare-ups you experience:

Ask your doctor about new Rxs

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) medications, like the injectable Ajovy, help prevent migraines by binding to the peptide CGRP, which is thought to play a key role in triggering the  headaches.

Sip ginger tea

Curling up with a hot cup of ginger tea isn’t just relaxing, it’s downright medicinal and can ward off ocular migraines. In fact, a study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that ginger dramatically reduced the severity of migraines. To make ginger tea, just steep ¼ tsp. ground ginger in 8 oz. of water. Bonus: the sip can help you stay hydrated, too.

Consider acupuncture

The ancient medicinal practice of applying pressure to key points in the body packs potent anti-inflammatory benefits that can both treat migraines and prevent them, notes Dr. Bernstein—something that’s even been backed up by science through randomized control trials.