Why do I get a migraine and see halos when looking at bright lights?

Doctor's Answers 3

Hi, migraines are a type of headache which can have various types of triggers or factors that cause an episode to develop.

These can include bright or flickering lights. Other reported triggers are disturbances in sleep patterns, certain types of food, and alcohol.

It is possible that the 'halos and spots' experienced are the 'aura' experienced before the headache starts. These are often described as zig zag bright lights that last for 15-20 minutes, associated with blind spots in part of the vision that also last for that period of time. After that, the lights and blind spots disappear by themselves.

The best thing for a person with migraine are to avoid the known triggers where possible, and then if a person feels that an attack is starting, certain medications can help to 'break' the attack or relieve the headache. Other things that help are having a nap in a dark, quiet room.

Of course, there are also other possible causes of headaches and visual disturbances, so if the attacks are particularly disturbing or getting worse, do consult with a doctor to firstly, make sure there is no other cause of the headache, and secondly get some effective treatment for it.

Different individuals can have different triggers for migraines. These triggers include bright lights. Some migraine suffers also have an 'aura' (a focal symptom before the headache) which comprises visual distortions. So visual issues can be both due to as well as lead to migraines.

Thank you for asking such a fascinating question.

How do Migraines Occur?

A migraine starts with overactive nerve cells in the brain. These cells send a message that causes some blood vessels to dilate and release chemicals, resulting in an inflamed blood vessel. This leads to the throbbing pain that a person feels. The bad news is that once a person has the headache, he becomes even more sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds.

How Migraine Affects our Senses

Headaches are just one symptom of the overall migraine condition. Researchers have found that people who get migraines have extra connections in the parts of their brains that process light and sound. Those areas are more active than they are in people who don't get migraines, and that leads to a bigger response.

It has been estimated that between 85 and 90% of people with migraine experience sensitivity to light. Photophobia is linked to the connection between cells in the eyes that detect light and a nerve that goes to the head.

There are some recent studies that suggest that specific neural pathways from the eye to the brain become activated at the onset of an attack, which may lead to the sudden light sensitivity and headache symptoms that many people with migraine experience immediately after exposure. Other scientists believe that there are special cells in the eye that are highly sensitive to certain wavelengths of light (including blue).

Another important recent discovery is that fluctuations in dopamine released by the brain—which influences movement, emotion, and pleasure, among other key functions—may explain why migraine sufferers experience sensitivity to light during a migraine attack as well as other painful reactions to touch, sound and smell.

Managing Migraines

A dark, quiet room is perhaps the most common refuge during the headache phase of a migraine attack because it removes a majority of any external factors that may be worsening the attack. One published survey showed that it was in fact the most popular treatment method, with more than 90% of patients having tried it. A quiet dark room can begin to diminish symptoms within 10-20 minutes after the onset of an attack of migraine.

Similar Questions

For someone suffering from mild depression, what can I do to stop my constant headaches without relying on painkillers?

Thank you for sharing your concerns. Sounds like you are a young lady with "mild depression" who gets frequent headaches. Most people can feel like they are at their wit's ends when dealing with such problems. There seem to be infinite treatment and test options. It can be hard to find a doctor who will give you an opinion on what should the next step be. But it does sound like your GP cares a lot about you and does give you sound advice. Perhaps you can go back and check with your GP again.

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Answered By

Dr Paul Ang

General Practitioner

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