From the Guidelines
A visual corona occurring without a migraine is a condition that requires prompt medical evaluation to rule out underlying serious conditions, such as retinal issues, optic nerve problems, or neurological conditions like transient ischemic attacks. This phenomenon, also known as an ocular migraine without headache or a silent migraine, involves seeing shimmering lights, zigzag patterns, or a halo effect around objects without the accompanying headache pain typical of migraines 1. According to the European panel of experts, migraine is a highly disabling primary headache disorder with a range of accompanying symptoms, and a minority of those affected develop chronic migraine or experience transient neurological disturbances, referred to as migraine aura 1.
Key Considerations
- The visual corona without a migraine may indicate various underlying conditions, and its evaluation is crucial to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
- Potential causes include retinal issues, optic nerve problems, or neurological conditions, and a comprehensive approach is needed to facilitate accurate diagnosis and evidence-based management 1.
- If you experience these symptoms, especially if they're new or changing, seek prompt medical attention to rule out serious conditions.
- No specific medication is recommended without professional evaluation, as treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Management and Prevention
- During an episode, it's advisable to rest your eyes in a dark, quiet room and avoid driving or operating machinery until symptoms resolve.
- These visual disturbances typically last 20-30 minutes and resolve on their own, but they warrant investigation to rule out serious conditions, particularly if they occur frequently or are accompanied by other neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, or speech difficulties.
- A healthcare provider should evaluate the condition to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan, which may include acute and preventive medications and a range of non-pharmacological therapies 1.
From the Research
Visual Corona without Migraine
- A visual corona occurring without a migraine can be a symptom of various conditions, but the provided studies do not directly address this specific scenario.
- However, studies on visual aura symptoms in migraine, such as the one published in 2007 2, describe the corona phenomenon as a visual illusion that can occur as a migraine aura symptom.
- The corona phenomenon is characterized by extra edges seen around perceptual images of objects, and is strongly associated with visual loss and elementary geometric hallucinations 2, 3.
- Another study published in 2024 4 discusses various visual complaints, including persistent aura and visual snow syndrome, but does not specifically address the occurrence of a visual corona without migraine.
- The other studies provided 5, 6 focus on prostaglandins and their role in glaucoma treatment, and do not provide relevant information on visual corona without migraine.