Visual disturbances in migraine

Abnormal visual sensations are the most common and characteristic features of migraine. In some patients, they are the only features. The major visual disturbance associated with migraine is scotoma; less common are distortions in size, shape, and color of viewed objects; photophobia; and diplopia and polyopia. Sudden loss of vision occurs in retinal migraine, and paralysis, usually of the third nerve, in ophthalmoplegic migraine. Paresis also may be found with cluster headache.