Question: How common is eye involvement with Migraine... coming on suddenly?
Answer:
Full Question:
My name is Emily and I've been a migraine
sufferer for about 10 years. My migraines are mostly under control thanks to
preventative treatment with Neurontin. Recently something new has occurred
that's left me wondering. Last Monday I awoke to severe eye pain...not my usual
migraine above my right eye...but inside the eye itself. I went to ER where they
checked for foreign substances, etc...but didn't find anything so I was started
on antibiotic ointment. A few days later I wasn't getting any relief and a
headache had started by then...so I went to an ophthalmologist to be evaluated.
This physician did the usual tests, and couldn't find anything wrong with the
eye itself...so told me that this eye involvement has to do with my migraines.
Now I've heard of people suffering migraine symptoms in their eyes, but in the
10 years that I've been suffering, I've never had pain like this, in my eye!!
I'm going to call my Neurologist tomorrow...but I was wondering what your
opinion was? How common is sort of eye involvement, and does it usually come on
like this...after years of migraines without such eye involvement? Thanks for
your time!! Emily
Answer:
Dear Emily;
Any change in headache presentation warrants some sort of workup or another look. I'm glad you saw the ophthalmologist. That would have ruled out eye issues as a cause, hopefully. I suspect the Neurontin could be increased to see if you can control the symptoms; sometimes a re-adjustment of dose can work wonders. If not, picking another agent from the large group that Neurontin belongs to might be an option. Seeking out a headache expert would also be an option at this point. There's a link below to our directory of recommended specialists.
Good luck with your hunt for answers,
Teri Robert and John Claude Krusz
____________
To visit our directory of recommended specialists and clinics, click
HERE.
To visit our forums for an exchange of information and support, click HERE.
Published January 16, 2006
