The most prominent symptom of migraine without aura is headache. It is associated with a slowly increasing pain, eventually developing into a throbbing headache. The headache may be severe and is often described as throbbing in quality. Diagnosis A diagnosis of migraine without aura is made if the patient fulfills the specific criteria detailed below. The patient must have a history of five previous similar episodes, with pain lasting between 4 and 72 hours.
Classical migraines are far less common.
It is associated with experiencing some degree of blindness or visual impairment that slowly occupies a larger field of vision. The blinded area is often surrounded by a sparkling edge. Up to one-half of the field of vision can be blinded or reduced. The blindness usually lasts about twenty minutes and is followed by a severe one-sided headache with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Some patients experience symptoms of the aura without subsequent development of headache.