Optical aberrations: a trigger for migraine?

Session Details

Session Title: Special Cases II

Session Date/Time: Monday 07/09/2015 | 17:00-18:30

Paper Time: 17:26

Venue: Room 11

First Author: : K.Wadia INDIA

Co Author(s): :    R. Shetty   K. Deshpande   C. Jaydev   P. Mehta           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate if ocular aberrations can be a trigger factor for migraine.

Setting:

Tertiary Care Hospital based in South India.

Methods:

This observational, cross-sectional study included 30 patients and 30 controls in the age group of 18-35 years with spherical equivalent ≤ -0.75. A questionnaire was used to screen headache patients for migraine for inclusion in the patient group. Schirmer's test, Tear Film Break-up Time (TBUT), Interferometric Colour Units (ICU) measured on Lipiview® interferometer (TearScience,Morrisville, N.C), Objective Scatter Index (OSI) measured on the Optical Quality Analysis System High Definition Analyser (OQAS HD Analyser) Visiometrics, Tarrasa, Spain) were performed. Aberrations were measured using mesopic wavefront by Optical Path Difference lll Scan (OPDIII, Nidek, Japan).

Results:

The mean age of patients with migraine was (26.21 ± 6.23) and that of the controls was (27.31± 6.19). Mean values for Schirmer's test with anaesthesia were 6.23±1.89mm & 7.87±1.02mm for patient and controls respectively(p=0.2). Mean TBUT for patients was (8.16±1.46) seconds & controls was (10.03±0.77) seconds; (p<0.001). Mean Lipiview for patients was (61.53±6.03) and controls was (70.71±5.41);(p=0.03). Mean OSI for patients was (1.17±0.34) & controls was (0.86±0.12);(p<0.001). Higher total (p<0.001), higher order (p=0.004), Coma (p=0.047) and spherical aberrations (p=0.003) were seen in patients. 63% of patients with history of ‘light' as trigger factor for migraine had statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in total, higher order and coma root mean square values.

Conclusions:

We assessed the role of tear film and aberrations as possible optical triggers in migraine patients and compared them to controls. We propose a hypothesis explaining how aberrations may trigger migraine. Future research to possibly stratify ‘at risk' patients with higher aberrations may help treat their underlying optical triggers to attenuate or prevent migraneous attacks.

Financial Interest:

NONE