The classic migraine begins with ocular symptoms, or aura, that include flashes of light. The migraine aura represents a wave of activity that travels through the brain. It reflects the fact that a large percentage of the brain is given over to processing visual information. The aura usually expands to a single side of the vision over the course of from 10 minutes to a half hour (10 percent of auras are not visual, however). At this point, a severely pounding headache typically emerges on a single side, which may be accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and sensitivity to light. These types of migraines may be triggered by irregularities in the neurotransmitter serotonin, related to everything from certain foods to hormonal changes associated with menopause.
Keep in mind that a complicated migraine, much rarer, is more serious. This involves very brief but repeated incidents of blindness or diminished vision, which come prior to or accompanying the headache. Speech changes and weakness on a specific side of the body are also potential symptoms. Because these bouts typically reflect a more serious underlying condition, it’s imperative that the symptoms of retinal migraine be assessed by an experienced healthcare provider immediately.