Migraine Aura without Headache - Explained.

After tension-type headache, Migraine is the commonest type of headache in humans. What differentiates it from the former are certain features that are found in migraine only, like sensitivity to light and sound, which aggravates the headaches or worsening of headache on moving around. Migraine headaches with aura are called Classical Migraines, however, the majority of people don’t encounter an aura. But if someone is experiencing migraine aura without headache, can it be migraine or some other condition of the eye? Before answering that, let’s go through what an aura is and how does it look like.

How a Migraine aura does look like?

Often many migraineurs report experiencing an aura. An aura is a transient visual or neurological episode that lasts from anywhere between 4 to 60 minutes. Auras are more common in middle and old-age migraineurs. The mechanism of the aura is thought to involve some kind of neurovascular mechanism. The auras are characterized by shimmering or scintillating bright spots or zigzag lines in the visual field. Often aura may present with a loss of vision in some particular space in the visual field. The image below depicts an aura.

Migraine Aura without Headache

While we associate the word Migraine with headache; although rare, Migraine aura without headache does occur. This is known as Acephalgic Migraine (Acephalgia means ‘without headache’). The first account of Acephalgic Migraine dates back to the 12^th century, where Abbess Hildegard of Bingen drew many of the pictures of the visual phenomenon. A proper case report of Migraine Aura without Headache was first published in 1967, where 7 people in the study were found to have it. It has also been reported that approximately 44% of people having a migraine, often suffer from episodes of migraine aura without headache.

As migraine auras without headache are infrequent and less debilitating, it is often underreported as well as undermanaged. However, if you have recurring symptoms, visit a doctor, preferably a neurologist, for initiating treatment and management of triggers.