Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Ophthalmoplegic migraine is now calledrecurrent ophthalmoplegic neuropathy, or RPON. Contrary to what the name implies, RPON is not a migraine. It causes a headache and temporary paralysis of specific nerves around the eye. It is a rare condition affecting about 0.7 out of every million people annually or approximately 230 people in the United States.
This article will address symptoms, causes, and treatment for ophthalmoplegic migraine/RPON, as well as short- and long-term prognosis.
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What Are the Symptoms of Ophthalmoplegic Migraine?
Symptoms of ophthalmoplegic neuropathy/RPON include:
How Healthcare Providers Test Your Eye Muscles
Although ophthalmoplegia typically improves, it may not completely disappear if a person has repeated incidences of RPON.This can lead to long-term weaknesses in eye movement and drooping of the upper eyelid.
RPON Is Not a Type of MigraineResearchers once believed that RPON was a type ofmigraine, which is why it was called ophthalmoplegic migraine. The International Headache Society changed its name to acknowledge that it is actually a nerve condition.
RPON Is Not a Type of Migraine
Researchers once believed that RPON was a type ofmigraine, which is why it was called ophthalmoplegic migraine. The International Headache Society changed its name to acknowledge that it is actually a nerve condition.
What Causes RPON?
Researchers are not sure what causes RPON. The recent change of its name from ophthalmoplegic migraine to RPON reflects some of the confusion surrounding the condition. Still, there are some possible causes of RPON that researchers have explored:
There appear to be some groups of people who are more likely to develop RPON:
Diagnosis of RPON
Healthcare providers will use several types of tests to help make an RPON diagnosis. These include:
To make an RPON diagnosis, your healthcare provider will ask whether you have had this type of attack at least twice.
How Do You Get Rid of Ophthalmoplegic Migraine?
Treatments for RPON require further study. Some occurrences do not require any treatment. Treatments that have had some success include:
RPON Prognosis
Even if RPON resolves independently, staying in touch with your healthcare provider is still a good idea. Chronic cases can cause specific eye issues in more than half of patients.These include:
Summary
Once called ophthalmoplegic migraine, RPON is a nerve disorder that causes headaches and weakness of specific eye muscles. It is not clear what causes RPON in some people.
Healthcare providers use several approaches to diagnose RPON, including a neurological exam and imaging. There is no well-studied treatment for RPON, but steroids are effective in some people who have this rare condition.
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4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aleksic DZ, Drakulic SM, Ljubisavljevic S.Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: migraine, neuralgia, or something else?J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2020;34(4):374-378. doi:10.11607/ofph.2656Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Orders, 3rd edition.Cephalagia. 2018;38:1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Li C, Huang X, Tan X, Fang Y, Yan J.A clinical retrospective study of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy in adults.J Ophthalmol. 2021;2021:9213852. doi:10.1155/2021/9213852Zamproni LN, Ribeiro RT, Cardeal M.Treatment of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: a case where pregabalin was successfully employed.Case Rep Neurol Med. 2019;2019:1-5. doi:10.1155/2019/9185603
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aleksic DZ, Drakulic SM, Ljubisavljevic S.Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: migraine, neuralgia, or something else?J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2020;34(4):374-378. doi:10.11607/ofph.2656Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Orders, 3rd edition.Cephalagia. 2018;38:1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Li C, Huang X, Tan X, Fang Y, Yan J.A clinical retrospective study of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy in adults.J Ophthalmol. 2021;2021:9213852. doi:10.1155/2021/9213852Zamproni LN, Ribeiro RT, Cardeal M.Treatment of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: a case where pregabalin was successfully employed.Case Rep Neurol Med. 2019;2019:1-5. doi:10.1155/2019/9185603
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Aleksic DZ, Drakulic SM, Ljubisavljevic S.Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: migraine, neuralgia, or something else?J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2020;34(4):374-378. doi:10.11607/ofph.2656Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Orders, 3rd edition.Cephalagia. 2018;38:1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202Li C, Huang X, Tan X, Fang Y, Yan J.A clinical retrospective study of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy in adults.J Ophthalmol. 2021;2021:9213852. doi:10.1155/2021/9213852Zamproni LN, Ribeiro RT, Cardeal M.Treatment of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: a case where pregabalin was successfully employed.Case Rep Neurol Med. 2019;2019:1-5. doi:10.1155/2019/9185603
Aleksic DZ, Drakulic SM, Ljubisavljevic S.Recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: migraine, neuralgia, or something else?J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2020;34(4):374-378. doi:10.11607/ofph.2656
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society.The International Classification of Headache Orders, 3rd edition.Cephalagia. 2018;38:1-211. doi:10.1177/0333102417738202
Li C, Huang X, Tan X, Fang Y, Yan J.A clinical retrospective study of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy in adults.J Ophthalmol. 2021;2021:9213852. doi:10.1155/2021/9213852
Zamproni LN, Ribeiro RT, Cardeal M.Treatment of recurrent painful ophthalmoplegic neuropathy: a case where pregabalin was successfully employed.Case Rep Neurol Med. 2019;2019:1-5. doi:10.1155/2019/9185603
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