Visual disturbances followed by a headache are indicative of migraine aura
Visual disturbances, such as scintillating scotomas or bright lights, are well-established neurological symptoms that frequently precede or accompany the headache phase in migraine with aura.
The retrieved literature consistently supports the clinical understanding that transient visual disturbances—often tied to cortical spreading depression—are key diagnostic indicators of migraine aura that typically precede the headache phase. Multiple systematic reviews and clinical studies confirm this presentation.
X. Zhang, Dan Levy, Rodrigo Noseda, Vanessa Kainz, Moshe Jakubowski, Rami Burstein. Activation of Meningeal Nociceptors by Cortical Spreading Depression: Implications for Migraine with Aura. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.0511-10.2010
Demonstrates that abnormal cortical activity in the visual cortex produces sensory disturbances (aura) prior to the headache phase in migraine with aura.
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Michele Viana, Erling Tronvik, Thien Phu, Chiara Zecca, Anders Hougaard. Clinical features of visual migraine aura: a systematic review. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-019-1008-x
Provides a systematic review of visual aura symptoms, confirming that transient visual disturbances are characteristic features of migraine aura.
P Mattsson, PO Lundberg. Characteristics and Prevalence of Transient Visual Disturbances Indicative of Migraine Visual Aura. 1999. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-2982.1999.019005479.x
Investigates transient visual disturbances as typical indicators of migraine visual aura in clinical and general populations.
Joppeková Ľ, Pinto MJ, da Costa MD, Boček R, Berman G, Salim Y, Akhtanova D, Abzalbekova A, MaassenVanDenBrink A, Lampl C. What does a migraine aura look like?-A systematic review.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-02080-6
Notes that migraine with aura presents as temporary neurological disturbances, primarily visual, that precede or accompany the headache.
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