Migraine Heroes

Silent Migraine & Visual Aura Without Headache: Kaleidoscope Vision, Zigzag Lines & Blind Spots

Migraine Heroes

Show Notes

Can you have a migraine without a headache? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores silent migraine, visual aura without headache, and symptoms such as kaleidoscope vision, zigzag lines and blind spots, helping you understand what may be happening in the brain and why these symptoms can feel so unsettling. In this episode, you will learn: Why migraine aura can happen without headache pain. How to recognize zigzag lines, blind spots, kaleidoscope vision and other visual aura symptoms. How Western science and Traditional Chinese Medicine interpret these sudden neurological changes.

Understand what these visual changes may be telling you, and when they deserve closer attention. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

References: The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (International Headache Society, 2018): The official classification defines migraine aura and typical aura without headache. Read more here. What Does a Migraine Aura Look Like?A Systematic Review (Joppeková et al., 2025): This review summarizes aura symptoms, mechanisms, diagnosis, and differential diagnoses. Read more here. Spreading Depolarization as a Therapeutic Target in Migraine (Harriott & Ayata, 2025): This review examines spreading depolarization as the biological basis of migraine aura and a potential treatment target. Read more here. Migraine Aura Symptoms: Duration, Succession and Temporal Relationship to Headache (Viana et al., 2016): This diary study examines the timing and sequence of aura symptoms and headache. Read more here. Clinical Features of Migraine Aura: Results From a Prospective Diary-Aided Study (Viana et al., 2017): This study describes the variety and variability of visual, sensory, and language aura symptoms. Read more here. Cortical Spreading Depression and Migraine (Charles & Baca, 2013): This review examines cortical spreading depression and its proposed relationship to migraine aura. Read more here. Neuroimaging in the Pre-Ictal or Premonitory Phase of Migraine: A Narrative Review (Karsan & Goadsby, 2023): This review examines brain changes occurring before migraine headache begins. Read more here. Migraine Aura Without Headache (Shah, Dilwali & Friedman, 2018): This review covers aura without headache, its diagnosis, physiology, and differential diagnosis. Read more here. Migraine Aura Without Headache: Transient Ischaemic Attack or Not? (Dennis & Warlow, 1992): This study compares aura without headache with transient ischemic attacks. Read more here. Aura Phenomenon: A Proposal for an Etiology-Based Clinical Classification (Pensato et al., 2025): This review proposes distinguishing migrainous aura from aura caused by other neurological conditions. Read more here.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.

More from Migraine Heroes

Oct 21, 2026

For some people, COVID ends, but the headache does not. Long COVID can bring a new headache pattern or make an existing migraine condition feel very different. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores why migraine, fatigue, poor sleep, dizziness and brain fog can sometimes appear together after COVID and why it may help to look beyond the head alone. You’ll learn: 💡 Why Long COVID may trigger new headaches or worsen an existing migraine pattern 💡 Why fatigue, sleep problems, dizziness, brain fog and exercise intolerance may sometimes travel alongside migraine 💡 Why recognizing your new post-COVID migraine pattern can be more useful than assuming your old triggers still explain everything When the pattern changes, understanding what has changed can be the first step toward making sense of your symptoms. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

Oct 19, 2026

What if one of your biggest migraine triggers is something you have never thought to notice? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme takes you through a practical “trigger scan”: from sleep, hormones and food to weather, sensory overload, posture and more without turning migraine management into a life of avoidance. You’ll learn: 💡 How to spot less obvious migraine triggers across your everyday routines, environment and body 💡 How to observe patterns without obsessing or eliminating everything and identify the few things that may actually matter for you The goal is not a smaller life built around avoiding triggers, but greater awareness of what helps your body become more stable. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com Few of the trigger episodes mentioned: Indulgence or Insight? What Chocolate, Cheese & Wine Reveal About Your Brain The Fasting Paradox: Why Skipping Meals Can Spark Migraine and Stress Why Red Wine Triggers Migraines for Some People And What Science Reveals Kombucha for Migraine: Healing Tonic or Hidden Trigger? 5 Reasons Why Fragrance & Perfume Smells Are Triggering Your Migraines & What To Do About It When Light Hurts: The Hidden Link Between Screens, Stress, and Migraine Hidden Sugar and Blood Sugar Spikes: The Silent Migraine Trigger

Oct 14, 2026

Seeing flashing lights or strange visual changes on one side does not always mean the problem is coming from one eye. In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explains the important difference between migraine aura and true retinal migraine and why knowing whether your symptoms affect one eye or both can matter. You’ll learn: 💡 Why migraine aura comes from the brain, even when the visual change seems to be on just one side 💡 What makes true retinal migraine different, why it is so rare, and why other causes of temporary vision loss need to be ruled out 💡 A simple one-eye-at-a-time test that can help you describe your visual symptoms more clearly to your doctor When it comes to visual migraine symptoms, one eye versus both eyes can be a very important clue. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

Oct 13, 2026

Have a migraine question you wish you could ask Diane directly? Every other Thursday, Diane opens the door for a small, informal live Q&A, bring your question or simply come and listen. The next sessions are October 22 and November 5, 2026. They are not recorded, so the conversation stays with the people in the room. 👉 To join, register at migraineheroes.com/live

Oct 12, 2026

Could your jaw be quietly adding fuel to your migraine attacks? In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores how jaw tension, clenching, and TMJ dysfunction may interact with migraine, especially if you wake with headaches or feel pain around your temples. You’ll learn: 💡 How to recognize signs that jaw tension or clenching may be contributing to your migraine 💡 Why teeth and tongue position at rest matter and why a mouth guard may not solve the clenching itself 💡 A simple jaw-reset routine you can try at home to release tension and calm the system Sometimes, a small change in how you hold your jaw can make a surprisingly meaningful difference. 🎧 New episodes every Monday and Wednesday 🔗 Discover our work on migraineheroes.com

See all episodes →