Ocular Migraine - How it Relates to Optical Migraine?

The visual symptoms of ocular migraine and common migraines aura are identical:

• zigzagging patterns in front of eyes
  
• bright flashes of light
• shimmering spot or stars
• visual dark spots
  

While an ocular migraine may last no longer than five minutes and without headache, a common migraines aura may last 20 minutes and results in a painful headache, sensitivity to light and vomiting.

One way to test for ocular migraine is to cover one eye. If the symptoms continue, cover the other eye. If the symptoms stop, the ocular migraine is the probable cause. If the symptoms continue after both eyes are tested, a traditional migraines aura is probably the culprit.