What are the different migraine types?

The term migraine refers to a neurological condition that typically involves throbbing or pulsating headaches affecting one side of the head. Migraines also frequently involve other symptoms such as light or sound sensitivity, as well as nausea and vomiting. The pain from a migraine attack can be so debilitating that it interferes with your regular activities, including school and work. Migraine attacks can persist for hours or even days. However, migraine symptoms aren’t the same for everyone, and there are different subtypes of migraines.

1. Migraine with aura: 

A warning sign known as an aura may occur before or during a migraine episode. Auras are primarily visual, with symptoms like light flashes or blind spots. Visual auras can involve several optical distortions, such as zigzag lines that float across your field of vision, shimmering spots or stars, or even changes in vision or temporary vision loss. 

Auras can also cause speech difficulties and sensory symptoms such as tingling on one side of the face or in an arm or leg. They may also occur without an accompanying headache. These are referred to simply as "migraine aura without headache." Older terms for this condition include "acephalgic migraine" or "silent migraine."

Aura may last from a few minutes or up to an hour before going away. Symptoms that last longer or worsen should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

2. Ocular or retinal migraine: 

The term ocular migraine is used interchangeably with what healthcare providers prefer to call retinal migraine, which is a type of migraine characterized by repeated attacks of visual aura or vision loss lasting less than one hour, usually in one eye.

Vision changes in one eye may also be a sign of a more severe condition, including a stroke, acute glaucoma, or a detached retina. This is why it's important to discuss your symptoms with your healthcare provider.

3. Abdominal migraine:

Other types of migraine may not involve any headaches, making them an atypical type of migraine. For example, abdominal migraine is a condition often discussed within the medical community. Abdominal migraine attacks typically affect children more often than adults. They often involve abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting episodes. There is evidence that children with a personal or family history of migraine headaches have an increased risk of developing abdominal migraine. Researchers are still trying to understand the potential connections between abdominal migraine and migraine with headache.

4. Vestibular migraine: 

Like abdominal migraine attacks, vestibular migraine attacks may or may not involve headaches. Vestibular migraine attacks include symptoms such as vertigo, imbalance, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms last anywhere from several minutes to several days.

Migraine attacks are common, but they can be challenging to pinpoint, especially considering the many types of migraine syndromes. Much work remains to uncover and understand the different types of migraine and find the best treatments for every patient. This is why it's essential to talk to your healthcare provider about any migraine symptoms you may experience. Your provider can also recommend the best over-the-counter migraine medication or prescription treatments for you.

Updated by Julie McDaniel, MSN, RN, CRNI, February 2025.