From what just happened to me and from reading about scintillating scotoma I am sure I just had it.

First off I never have even had anything like this happen. My vision started getting weird, then I got shimmering bright water ripple like around the edge of my vision. It lasted about 20 minutes then went away.
From reading about s.s. it is associated also with migraines/headaches but I didn't have one of those. Hmmmm

Anyone have anything like this happen to them?

thanks

Fried, I get this off an on, usually around PMS time. It's annoying, and I feel as if I can't focus with my vision, but it goes away after about 20 minutes. Stay off the computer while you have this (but you have to read the responses, of course!), because I found the lights bothered me. Sunlight bothers me, too, when I have this, and bright lights.

Try to lie down and close your eyes when you have it. I don't usually get a headache, either, with it. My mother had this, too--may be hereditary.

Frisbee

I get migraine auras without the pain. For me, I see a prism of colored light that moves slowly across the field of my vision. They usually take about 20 minutes to resolve--I am lucky that they are not followed by the headache pain. I get them a couple of times a year. I have also had the occaisonal "ember"--a very bright shining dot of light. I see these evern with my eyes closed during a spell. I hate these spells, but they do pass. It helps to lie down in a dark room.

I read somewhere that migraines can be triggered by a drop in estrogen and are common during the first day or two of a period.

If its your first one, you should have a doctor or eye doc take a look too as you don't want to mess around with your vision.

Thanks Frisbee! My mom has complained for years she gets "floaters" and couldn't drive and she takes meds.

Damn hereditary!!!

Yes they are called ocular migraines. I haven't had one for a while but they often come if I am ill or excessively tired.
The thing about them is they do sometimes precede a headache but often do not. I had one once where I didn't get a headache but a vertigo attack and vomiting.


janet c

So it just comes out of the blue and it could or couldn't happen again?

thanks everyone

I have had the same thing - couple of times a year. It scared the heck out of me the first time, but my symptoms sound the same as yours, and they are pretty textbook. I guess we should be thankful we don't have the pain that many people have. I believe the name for this is optic migraine - in other words, vision effects only, no pain.

R2

I had my first one at 16 (I am 50 now) I freaked out. I had one in front of a friend of mine when I was in my twenties and she was a nurse and freaked out and said I needed to see a Dr. cause it could be something serious. I knew it wasn't. I saw an opthomalogist (sp?) who confirmed they were occular migraines. I would get on occasion a very slight headache, but, usually nothing. Mine would start out with small bright white zig zags that would get bigger and bigger until my vision was all weirded out, it would last about 20 minutes. I would get them maybe 2x a year sometimes 3x. Now, I can't remember the last time I had one, knock on wood. But, it I do it wouldn't scare me.

I did end up with a slight headache late yesterday afternoon. This morning I woke up with the same headache...not too painful but it's still there.

That's right. Since this started happening to me, I began asking around and it's pretty common. I don't know of anyone who has only had one episode though. I felt reassured after seeing my optometrist. I know now just to try to relax when it happens. Doesn't necessarily have to follow with a classic migraine headache. Sometimes they can just happen on their own or be accompanied by some head pressure. I hope you're lucky and it was a one off but try not to worry too much if it happens again.

Hugs
Gabby