Is there a name for this migraine symptom?

October 4, 2013 10:07 AM

I periodically get migraines (headache, neck pain, nausea/vomiting, light/sound sensitivity). I don't get auras, but I do get an odd visual symptom. One of the ways I can tell the difference from a tension or general headache during onset is that I will want to take my glasses off. As the attack progresses, I find it uncomfortable to look at things. It's a bit hard to describe, but it's as though the act of focusing my eyes, especially on anything close, exacerbates both the nausea and the light sensitivity. It feels related to, but separate from, the light sensitivity symptom. Is this an observed phenomena in other people, and does it have it's own medical name? (Note, I'm not asking for treatment options, just the proper diagnosis/name for the symptom.)
posted by Karmakaze to Health & Fitness (8 answers total)

Best answer: Anecdotally: yes. The feeling of "it's uncomfortable to look at things" is a key migraine-onset indicator for me.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:21 AM on October 4, 2013

I would call it a type of aura.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 10:25 AM on October 4, 2013 [4 favorites]

It sounds like the scotomas that are part of my migraine aura.
posted by Pax at 10:36 AM on October 4, 2013

This happens to me and I definetely wouldn't call it an aura. For what it's worth--focusing is about how your eye is adjusting to light as I understand it, so it probably is part of the light sensitivity issue. From this webpage:

Focusing the light. When light bounces off an object and reaches the eye, it must be bent so that its rays arrive at the retina in focus. Four different surfaces bend the light as it enters the eye: the cornea, the aqueous humor, the lens, and the vitreous humor.

posted by Kimberly at 10:37 AM on October 4, 2013

I experience the same thing, and I always thought it was part of light sensitivity, not an aura. When I take off my glasses or contacts, my eyesight is bad enough that I'm not as sensitive to seeing movement, either, so I think it may also give my eye muscles a break and also reduce the stimuli going into my brain. That's how I think of it, at least. Sorry I don't know a specific name for it other than sensitivity to light.
posted by aspen1984 at 10:43 AM on October 4, 2013

"Accommodative dysfunction" or "convergence insufficiency" might be what you're describing.

I experience something similar with migraines and sometimes independent of headaches.

I'm sorry; it can be very frustrating.
posted by whoiam at 11:05 AM on October 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Many people experience similar symptoms with migraines, although people who don't wear glasses are unlikely to experience the urge to take their glasses off.

You do get auras, "aura" is a broader designation than most people think it is.

This looks promising for figuring out a medical term.
posted by yohko at 4:39 PM on October 4, 2013

I get the same thing, which sometimes progresses to a headache, when I sleep and eat poorly.

magnesium citrate has helped a lot.
posted by sebastienbailard at 10:25 PM on October 4, 2013