THE EFFECT OF STRIPED PATTERNS ON THE VISUAL EVOKED POTENTIALS IN PATIENTS WITH MIGRAINE

Objective: In this study, we aim to examine the effect of striped patterns on visual evoked potentials in migraine patients. Materials and methods: This study was performed in the department of neurology with 50 patients (18 - 50 years old) diagnosed with migraine and who had a photophobia. The average age of the patients was 35.16 years and %74 of them was female. Following the first day of visual evoked potentials shooting, the high-contrast striped patterns were shown to patients for one minute and visual evoked potentials shooting was repeated. Levels of visual evoked potentials were analysed according to the classification and differences were determined. The findings were analysed by using SPSS program Windows 15 version and Kolmogorov Smirnov and Paired Sample tests were used. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Latency of the left eye was found to be significantly higher in all patients (p < 0.05). The latency of the left eyes was significantly higher in patients who had migraine more than five years with bilateral pain, who closed the curtain or the light during the attacks, who were uncomfortable with the bright light even without attacks and who had attacks with bright light (p < 0.05). It has been found that the latency level was not related with the number and the duration of attacks, lying under the duvet and wearing sunglasses (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, it has been thought that the latencies prolonged also in the interictal period in light-sensitive individuals due to abnormalities in the information processing of the increasing hyper excitability.