Ophthalmoplegic Migraine

Rate This

An ophthalmoplegic migraine is one that begins around one eye and is followed by third or sixth nerve palsy, causing a paralysis of the eye. It is most common in children.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:
• Headache that is like a migraine
• Sometimes the headache is absent
• Cranial neuropathy involving the oculomotor nerves, resulting in paralysis of the eye
• Decreased consciousness
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Seizures

It can last a few days or can continue for a few months. Once classed as a migraine variant, doctors now believe it is closer to neuralgia in its symptomology.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is performed by taking a full medical history, doing a lumbar puncture (to rule out conditions like meningitis), MRI scan of the brain and a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) which is another type of scan that provides pictures of the blood vessels. The blood vessels to the brain can then be examined to rule out aneurysms or other problems. If no other conditions are detected, the patient may be diagnosed with ophthalmophlegic migraine.

What Causes Ophthalmoplegic Migraine?

It is thought to be caused by a demyelinating of the third and sixth cranial nerves. Myelin is the protective covering on the nerves (think of plastic coating around a wire). When this becomes eroded, disease can occur.

Most children grow out of ophthalmoplegic migraines and when they occur in adults, they also resolve in most cases. If the patient has had several attacks, some deficits in the eye may remain as a consequence.

How is it Treated?

It can be treated with prednisone, a powerful corticosteroid that reduces inflammation. It is an immunosuppressant which means the person taking it will be more likely to get colds and other infections. Other options include beta blockers (drugs that block nerve transmissions) and calcium channel blockers (that block the amount of calcium that is absorbed and act as a muscle relaxant).
Most people enjoy complete recovery after a varying period of time.

Sources:

Ophthalmoplegic migraine, Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2004 Aug;8(4):306-9. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15228891

Ophthalmoplegic migraine, GP Notebook. Web. 26 October 2011. http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=-1395654645

Ophthalmoplegic Migraine, Medscape Reference. Web. 26 October 2011. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1142731-overview#aw2aab6c11

Ophthalmoplegic Migraine: 30 year-old male with migraine headaches and occasional diplopia, Eye Rounds.org. Web. 26 October 2011. http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/cases/52-Ophthalmoplegic-Migraine-Diplopia-Headache.htm

Joanna is a freelance health writer for The Mother magazine and Suite 101 with a column on infertility, http://infertility.suite101.com/. She is author of the book, 'Breast Milk: A Natural Immunisation,' and co-author of an educational resource on disabled parenting.

Reviewed October 26, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

Why Can’t I Type or Speak? Scary Symptoms that Can Accompany Migraine with Aura

10 Tips for Traveling with Chronic Pain

6 Natural Ibuprofen Alternatives

Is Your Sinus Headache Really a Migraine?

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Empowered

Joanna Karpasea-Jones View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.