Visual effects of migraine?

[Louise]

I have an inability to look at stripes at any time. They wave and flicker. I have had an MRI and EEG, which were both normal. Also, I can not see with just one eye. If I close one eye, my vision gets "snowy" and grays in and out. I have a history of ocular migraine, the visual field loss without the headache. Please do  not recommend a visit to the neuro-ophthalmologist or neurologist, as I have already been down that route to no avail. They did discover that I have asymetrical optic nerves; there's a slight pallor, ciliary vessel, and a slightly enlarged blind spot in the left eye. I would appreciate your opinion on any of these two peculiar phenonmena, namely the flickering stripes and snowy vision. I am eagerly awaiting your reply. Thank you. Louise

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Louise:

Since I am a neurologist, I am not sure if you want my opinion.  Since you do not "want to be sent to a neurologist".  As far as sending you anywhere, usually the internet is not a place to get a diagnosis as the story is only partial and the exam non-existent, so getting a patient to someone who can do those things is the best for the patient.

What were the findings concerning slow saccades?  You may have a slow pursuit problem or abnormal saccades (slow vs fast fixation).  Were your visual evoked potentials normal? You have normal binocular vision (see in 3D)?  Anyway, in ocular migraine, the visual phenomonea is episodic and not continual.  Migraines are usually no more than 2-4 per month with the in-between time normal.  Since you have this problem continuously, the symptoms are not migraine.  Since the EEG is normal when you are visualizing stripes and using onw or two eyes, the problem is not seizure activity activated by visual stimuli.  So, I really cannot tell you much that you don't already know.  Sorry that I'm not much help.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

CCF Neuro MD

[Comment]

I gotta say...I have been trying to post to this site for over 8 months now to no avail...and then this gets posted - someone who starts out immediately asserting they don't want the advice of a neurologist...well, this is the neruology forum. These doctors are wonderful to take their time out - you don't know how luck you are to have even been able to post!!!!! They accept just 2 questions per day!

[barbara to comment]

I second your opinion!