What is an Aura Migraine?
An aura migraine, which is also called an ocular migraine, is a type of migraine headache that includes visual disturbances, such as shimmers of light, blind spots, flashes or wavy lines in your field of vision. Aura migraines can coincide with the discomfort of a traditional migraine, or they can develop completely separately. Thus, you may experience migraines with auras without having pain. Instead, you may only experience symptoms that affect your senses. The aura of an aura migraine will likely last less than an hour, but other symptoms of the condition may persist much longer.
Aura migraines may be uncomfortable, but they can usually be treated effectively by taking medication and avoiding triggers.
Aura migraines can be triggered by a number of things. Here are a few of them:
About 37 million people suffer from chronic migraines. Of those, about a third have migraines with auras.
Most people with aura migraines experience mental fog, so during an episode, you may find it difficult to concentrate or find the right words as you speak. In addition, you may feel tingly, numbing sensations throughout your face, tongue and hands. The feeling may be similar to the tingly sensation that can result from poor blood circulation.
Also, within your vision, there may be blind spots and flashes of light. These visual disturbances can make it difficult to drive or be fully aware of what is going on around you. Your ability to taste, smell or palpate something in the normal manner may also be disrupted. You may even experience hallucinations. Weakness is also common during migraines with auras.