Transient complete homonymous hemianopia associated with migraine. 2011

Denise Goodwin
Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR 97116, USA. goodwin@pacificu.edu

BACKGROUND Because of the transient and rare nature, objective visual and neuroimaging evaluation during an acute, spontaneous attack of a migrainous aura causing a complete homonymous hemianopia has not been reported. METHODS A healthy 27-year-old white woman with a history of typical aura with migraine presented during an episode of no light perception in the right hemifield of both eyes. Ophthalmic testing and neuroimaging were unremarkable. The visual field defect started to resolve 1 hour after initial symptoms, and significant improvement was seen after 4 hours. One year later, the patient had no visual field defects and had not experienced another episode of homonymous hemianopia. CONCLUSIONS More than one third of migrainous patients experience visual symptoms. Typical aura with migraine is diagnosed usually by history. Laboratory testing and neuroimaging are necessary if an alternative cause is suspected, i.e., the aura begins after age 40 years, negative features are predominant, or the aura is very short or prolonged. Correct diagnosis is critical, because conditions that mimic migrainous aura have potentially devastating consequences. Migraine with aura patients may have persistent visual field defects and are at an increased risk for stroke compared with nonmigraine patients. This case improves our knowledge of the nature of a transient homonymous hemianopia associated with migraine.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D005260 Female Females
D006423 Hemianopsia Partial or complete loss of vision in one half of the visual field(s) of one or both eyes. Subtypes include altitudinal hemianopsia, characterized by a visual defect above or below the horizontal meridian of the visual field. Homonymous hemianopsia refers to a visual defect that affects both eyes equally, and occurs either to the left or right of the midline of the visual field. Binasal hemianopsia consists of loss of vision in the nasal hemifields of both eyes. Bitemporal hemianopsia is the bilateral loss of vision in the temporal fields. Quadrantanopsia refers to loss of vision in one quarter of the visual field in one or both eyes. Hemianopsia, Binasal,Hemianopsia, Bitemporal,Hemianopsia, Homonymous,Quadrantanopsia,Altidudinal Hemianopia,Altitudinal Hemianopsia,Binasal Hemianopia,Bitemporal Hemianopia,Hemianopia,Homonymous Hemianopia,Quadrantanopia,Altidudinal Hemianopias,Altitudinal Hemianopsias,Binasal Hemianopias,Binasal Hemianopsia,Binasal Hemianopsias,Bitemporal Hemianopias,Bitemporal Hemianopsia,Bitemporal Hemianopsias,Hemianopia, Altidudinal,Hemianopia, Binasal,Hemianopia, Bitemporal,Hemianopia, Homonymous,Hemianopias,Hemianopias, Altidudinal,Hemianopias, Binasal,Hemianopias, Bitemporal,Hemianopias, Homonymous,Hemianopsia, Altitudinal,Hemianopsias,Hemianopsias, Altitudinal,Hemianopsias, Binasal,Hemianopsias, Bitemporal,Hemianopsias, Homonymous,Homonymous Hemianopias,Homonymous Hemianopsia,Homonymous Hemianopsias,Quadrantanopias,Quadrantanopsias
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014794 Visual Fields The total area or space visible in a person's peripheral vision with the eye looking straightforward. Field, Visual,Fields, Visual,Visual Field
D020127 Recovery of Function A partial or complete return to the normal or proper physiologic activity of an organ or part following disease or trauma. Function Recoveries,Function Recovery
D020325 Migraine with Aura A subtype of migraine disorder, characterized by recurrent attacks of reversible neurological symptoms (aura) that precede or accompany the headache. Aura may include a combination of sensory disturbances, such as blurred VISION; HALLUCINATIONS; VERTIGO; NUMBNESS; and difficulty in concentrating and speaking. Aura is usually followed by features of the COMMON MIGRAINE, such as PHOTOPHOBIA; PHONOPHOBIA; and NAUSEA. (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Basilar-Type Migraine,Classic Migraine,Complicated Migraine,Familial Hemiplegic Migraine,Migraine, Classic,Acute Onset Aura Migraine,Basilar Artery Migraine,Basilar Migraine,Classical Migraine,Hemiplegic Migraine, Familial,Hemiplegic-Ophthalmoplegic Migraine,Migraine Aura without Headache,Migraine with Acute Onset Aura,Migraine with Prolonged Aura,Migraine with Typical Aura,Migraine, Prolonged Aura,Typical Aura without Headache,Basilar Migraines,Basilar Type Migraine,Familial Hemiplegic Migraines,Migraine with Auras,Migraine, Basilar,Migraine, Basilar Artery,Migraine, Basilar-Type,Migraine, Classical,Migraine, Complicated,Prolonged Aura Migraine

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