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When you think about migraines, you’re likely imagining an experience that involves a headache and visual aura
symptoms. However, it is actually possible to experience a migraine aura without the headache pain.1,2,3 While an
aura without a headache isn’t common, some people who experience migraines will have an aura not accompanied
by head pain.1 Below, we’ll walk through the ins and outs of migraine auras to help you determine if you’re
experiencing a migraine aura without the pain or another issue with symptoms that impact your vision.
Migraine auras can be categorized into one of three types: visual auras, sensorimotor auras, and dysphasic
auras.4 A visual aura impacts a person’s vision and includes symptoms like seeing flashes.4 A sensorimotor aura
causes motor and sensory experiences like numbness and tingling. A dysphasic aura impacts speech.4
Other Stages of a Migraine
An aura is typically the second stage of a migraine.5 The four stages of a migraine are prodrome, aura, attack and
post-drome.5 During the prodrome stage, which comes before an aura, you may notice warning signs of a migraine
one to two days before the pain occurs.5 These warning symptoms include mood changes, increased urination,
frequent yawning, neck stiffness and food cravings.5 After the attack stage of a migraine is the post-drome stage,
where you may feel drained, confused or washed out for about a day.5 Not everyone who experiences a migraine will
go through all four of these stages.5
Blind spots
Fogged vision
Zigzag lines
Flashes or flashing lights
Bright and colorful spots
A feeling of looking through water or heat waves
Those that experience migraine auras without a headache generally experience these visual symptoms—the only
difference is that the visual disturbances are not followed by head pain.3 The migraine aura symptoms may change
in the first five minutes of the aura and are generally preceded by a build-up of symptoms.1 In the case of a migraine
aura without a headache, the aura symptoms tend to last for 20 to 30 minutes.3 A migraine aura without a headache
will be experienced in both eyes, rather than just one.1
If you’re unsure that the symptoms you’re experiencing are related to migraine aura, you can get a diagnosis from a
medical professional.4 Doctors can perform eye exams, computed tomography (CT) scans of the head, or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm your aura symptoms and make sure they’re not indicating a more serious
condition.4
Taking a pain reliever that contains ingredients like acetaminophen and aspirin can help lessen aura symptoms and
any accompanying pain.4
Try Supplementing Magnesium
Some people find that supplementing with the nutrients can help diminish the severity and frequency of migraines.4
Practice Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Although there’s no one-to-one lifestyle modification that stops the experience of migraine auras without headaches,
there are modifications you can make that may help prevent them. Make sure to get enough sleep and take steps to
manage your stress levels.1 You should also avoid known migraine triggers if you have them.1
Source Citations:
. Migraine Aura without Headache. American Migraine Foundation. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-
library/migraine-aura-without-headache/. Accessed 4/21/22.
. Aura Without Headache or “Silent Migraine”: A Guide. American Migraine
Foundation. https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/silent-migraine/. Accessed 4/21/22.
. A Migraine Without Pain? Yes, It Can Happen, and It’s Called an Ocular Migraine. Cleveland
Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-migraine-without-pain-yes-it-can-happen-and-its-called-an-ocular-migraine/.
Accessed 4/21/22.
. Migraine Aura. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22131-migraine-aura. Accessed
4/21/22