An analysis of the factors associated with visual field deficits measured with flickering stimuli in-between migraine.

We have previously demonstrated that perimetric performance measured with flickering stimuli is not normal in some individuals who experience migraine with aura in the period between their attacks. In this study, flicker perimetric performance is measured in a broad group of migraineurs to determine whether the existence of such visual field deficits is dependent on the presence of visual aura, is correlated with the duration of migraine history, or frequency of attacks. Twenty-eight migraine with aura, 25 migraine without aura, and 24 non-headache control subjects participated. The performance of the migraine groups was not significantly different from each other. The migraine groups showed significantly lower general sensitivity across the visual field and higher incidence of localized visual field deficits relative to controls. Both length of migraine history and frequency of migraine occurrence over the past 12 months were significantly correlated with lower general sensitivity to flickering visual stimuli.