Migraines and eyes

Kenneth Wright, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, shares advice for parents on how migraines can cause disturbances in vision in children to help them be aware of it if their children gets migraines
How Migraines Can Affect Vision In Children
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Migraines and eyes

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Migraine headaches. First of all, what is a migraine headache? A migraine headache is when you have vasoconstriction, blood vessels that constrict, the ones that go to the brain. Your brain says, "Hey, I don't have enough blood. I need more blood." The vessels dilate. Now you have blood pounding, which is where you get a pounding headache. There are two phases to a migraine headache. The first phase is constriction of the blood vessels, low blood to the brain. Secondary, you get dilation and that's where you get the pounding headache. Where the vision comes in is the vasoconstrictive phase, the first phase. The brain doesn't get quite enough blood. The most sensitive part of the brain to lack of blood flow is the visual areas. They will often have visual disturbances like seeing lights or losing visual field. They will say, "I'm seeing weird." It's after that, that they get the headache. It's alarming when they get those visual experiences. The good news is that it's not permanent. The vision will come back as soon as those blood vessels dilate.

Kenneth Wright, MD Pediatric Ophthalmologist, shares advice for parents on how migraines can cause disturbances in vision in children to help them be aware of it if their children gets migraines

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Kenneth Wright, MD

Pediatric Ophthalmologist

A caring physician, Dr. Kenneth Wright is devoted to the health of children’s eyes. He is an internationally respected pediatric ophthalmologist, and is included in “The Best Doctors in America” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Health Care.”  Dr. Wright is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine.  He has developed novel surgical techniques for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.  Dr. Wright received his medical degree from Boston University and fellowships in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Johns-Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, and Children’s Hospital, Washington, DC.  Following his fellowships, he then accepted a full-time faculty member position at USC School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles where he served for 10 years.  He was later appointed Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, before returning home to Los Angeles to establish a pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus center of excellence.  

Dr. Wright has authored of over 100 published scientific papers, seven textbooks including his renowned textbook, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and has lectured worldwide.  He founded the non-profit Wright Foundation with a mission to reduce blindness and suffering in children with eye disorders through research, education, and clinical care. He has established a pediatric eye clinic for underprivileged children.  Important to the Wright Center is the principle that patient care always comes first.  

An interesting personal note is that Dr. Wright’s youngest son developed crossed eyes as an infant requiring surgery and Dr. Wright operated on his own son.  The outcome was excellent and years later his son served in the United States Marine Corps as a top marksman.

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