The aura of migraine is most commonly visual, and precedes the migraine attack from 20 to 60 minutes. Occasionally, the migraine aura will persist into the headache phase of migraine, or may even start once the headache has begun. Several major forms of visual phenomena can occur as migraine related auras. Fortification spectra or teichopsia is the bright, shimmering, jagged lines that can spread across the visual field. The name fortification spectra comes from the visual appearance that resembles the battlements or walls of archaic fortresses.
Metamorphopsia is the distortion of visual images in their size, shape, and color.
Amaurosis Fugax, which appears as a loss of vision coming from the top down, as if a shade were being drawn, can also occur. Some medications such as tricyclic antidepressants may cause blurred vision and difficulty focusing. All rights reserved.