Aura-like features and photophobia in sightless migraine patients

Abstract

Migraine is a central nervous system disorder frequently expressed with paroxysmal visual dysfunctions. Objective: To test the hypothesis that a normal visual input is vital for migrainous aura and photophobia. Methods: We studied the migraine-related visual disturbances in 8 sightless migraineurs identified among 200 visually impaired subjects. Results: The main findings were visual aura and photophobia disappearance along with the development of blindness, abnormal aura [too short, colorful (e.g., blue or fire-like), auditory in nature, or different in shape (round forms)], and the lack of photophobia. Conclusions: We propose that the aura duration should be accepted as shorter in visually impaired subjects. The changes in the aura phenotype observed in our patients may be a result of cerebral plasticity induced by visual impairment and/or the lack of a visual input per se. Integrity of visual pathways plays a key role in migraine visual aura and photophobia.