*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.

You should also know that OutUK has produced a special report about: Coronavirus Covid-19.

This Week - R : Retinal Migraine

Retinal migraines are a type of migraine that affect the eyes. They can cause temporary vision loss in 1 eye and other eye symptoms.

Retinal migraines are less common than other types of migraine.

Symptoms of a retinal migraine

Retinal migraines usually affect 1 eye.

They often come on suddenly and symptoms include:

vision loss - this usually lasts around 10 to 20 minutes but can sometimes last up to 1 hour
a blind spot in your vision
a headache - you may get this at the same time as the eye symptoms or shortly afterwards
other eye symptoms, such as blurred vision and seeing flashing lights, zigzag patterns or coloured spots or lines
feeling sick or being sick

Sometimes you can get the eye symptoms without having a headache.

you have vision problems, such as a blind spot in your vision, for the first time

You have retinal migraines and:

you have a headache that came on suddenly and is extremely painful
you suddenly have problems speaking or remembering things
you have sudden vision loss, blurred vision or double vision
you suddenly feel dizzy, drowsy or confused
you have a seizure or fit
you have a high temperature with a stiff neck, pain when looking at bright lights, pale and blotchy skin or a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it
you have sudden weakness in your arms or legs on 1 side of your body, or 1 side of your face

These are signs of more serious conditions and you need to get immediate medical help.

Do not drive yourself to A&E.

The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.

Treatment for retinal migraines is not usually needed if you do not have them very often.

If you have them frequently, a GP may suggest:

trying to avoid things that cause your migraines, such as cutting down on caffeine or alcohol
painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
medicines to stop you feeling sick or being sick
medicines to help prevent migraines, such as topiramate or amitriptyline
a few weeks of acupuncture

If these treatments do not help control your migraines, you may be referred to a specialist called a neurologist for more tests and treatment.

Retinal migraines are thought to happen when the blood vessels in your eye suddenly narrow, restricting the blood flow.

Things that can cause them include:

Keeping a record of when you get migraines in a diary can help you work out what might be causing them.

There are things you can do if you get retinal migraines. A GP may suggest trying them before recommending other treatments.

We'll have more information and advice next week on another topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.