Blood flow changes in the eyes could influence visual symptoms of migraines

A latest examine discovered adjustments in blood circulate within the retina may clarify why some migraine sufferers expertise visible signs. The findings may characterize a long-sought observable marker for migraines that medical doctors can use to assist within the medical remedy of the situation.

Whereas patients with migraines typically expertise signs akin to ache across the eye, sensitivity to mild, blind spots and visible blurring, the mechanisms behind these signs haven’t been effectively understood. UCLA Well being researchers used a non-invasive imaging method, referred to as optical coherence tomography angiography, or OCTA, to visualise adjustments within the retinal blood vessels of migraine sufferers each throughout and between migraine assaults. The imaging was carried out on 37 migraine sufferers with aura signs, 30 migraine sufferers with out aura signs and 20 wholesome sufferers for a control group.

Researchers discovered that blood flow decreases within the retina throughout migraine assaults for each migraine sufferers with and with out aura signs. Nonetheless, sufferers with aura signs had been discovered to have decrease blood circulate in sure areas of the retina in comparison with sufferers with out aura signs. Moreover, asymmetrical blood circulate within the retinas was additionally correlated with which aspect of the pinnacle that migraine sufferers skilled ache.

The findings may point out why some sufferers expertise visible signs and will characterize a biomarker for migraine assaults.

The paper is published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Ache.

The examine was led by former UCLA Division of Neurology Scientific Teacher Dr. Katherine Podraza (now of the Hartford Healthcare Headache Middle) and coauthored by former UCLA Well being analysis scientist Nitin Bangera, UCLA Goldberg Migraine Program medical analysis coordinator Akira Feliz and UCLA Goldberg Migraine Program Director Dr. Andrew Charles of the UCLA Division of Neurology.