RPON vs Migraine and Ocular Migraine
Migraine and ocular migraine [8] share some symptoms with RPON, but still do not cause the same medical issues.
It is important to understand how migraine and ocular migraine differ from RPON. This will help know when to seek medical care.
In 30% of RPON cases, recurrent episodes may be severe enough to cause permanent neurological damage. Retinal migraine also has a potential complication of irreversible visual loss.
During a migraine attack, one experiences pain in one side of the head at a time. Migraine episodes which last between 4 to 72 hours can cause intense head pain, nausea, sensitivity to light, and vomiting.
According to the American Migraine Foundation, [9] up to 3 in 10 people with migraine experience vision changes, such as blurred vision during an episode.
However, certain symptoms that are common with RPON, such as loss of peripheral vision or eye drooping, do not affect people with migraine.
Ocular migraine may refer to aura or retinal migraine. These types of migraine cause visual distortions with or without a headache. It typically lasts less than an hour, it lasts longer in 20% of cases.
Visual symptoms of retinal migraine occur in one eye before or during the headache phase of an episode. Retinal migraine symptoms are more common than aura symptoms.
Preventive Measure for RPON
There is no confirmed way in how RPON can be prevented because it’s unclear what causes people to develop the condition. The best thing to do if you have already had a migraine episode or have been diagnosed with RPON is to identify and to avoid the triggers. This might not prevent the condition, but it can reduce the frequency of episodes.