Stereoscopic Optic Nerve Photography, Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry, and Scanning Laser Polarimetry Study of Migraine Patients

Purpose: To perform a pilot clinical study using three different technologies to detect possible presence of glaucomatous changes in migraine vs. control patients. Methods: The study sample comprised 15 subjects with migraine and 15 control subjects seen at The Eye Institute at Nova Southeastern University, College of Optometry. The migraine patients completed an International Headache Society questionnaire. The examination protocol included 1) stereoscopic optic nerve photography; 2) short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) using a Humphrey® Field analyzer (HFA) II perimeter (Humphrey Systems, Carl Zeiss Inc., Dublin, CA); and 3) scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) using a GDx® scanning laser polarimeter (Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc., San Diego, CA). Results: There were no clear and unambiguous differences in the data obtained from the stereoscopic optic nerve photography, SWAP, GDx between the migraine and control groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that any pathophysiological contributions that migraine headaches may make to the development of glaucoma might be weak or restricted to a specific sub-category of migraine sufferers.