What Causes Kaleidoscope Vision and When to Worry

Kaleidoscope vision, often associated with ocular migraines, can also be a sign of more serious conditions like a stroke. If you experience this colorful, fractured vision for the first time or with alarming symptoms like one-sided weakness, seek medical attention immediately.

Recognizing the Signs of Kaleidoscope Vision

Kaleidoscope vision makes it seem like you’re peering through an optical instrument. Episodes typically last 10 to 30 minutes, though they can extend up to an hour.

You might experience:

• Bright colors
• Fractured images or geometric shapes that look as if you’re peering through broken glass
• Zig zags
• Shimmering or pixelated vision
• Blurry vision

Neurological changes from migraines or other conditions cause kaleidoscope vision, and you may have symptoms of a headache or signs of migraine with aura. The symptoms are most often present in both eyes, although you might experience them in one eye or just part of your vision.

If a stroke causes the kaleidoscope vision episode, you might experience signs and symptoms of stroke, including numbness on one side of the body or confusion. Symptoms that present alongside the kaleidoscope vision depend on their underlying cause.

What Can Cause It?

Kaleidoscope vision is most often caused by an ocular migraine. Though the exact cause of migraines is unclear, they seem linked to neurological abnormalities. Migraines can run in families and may be triggered by stress, food, and other factors.

Ocular and Retinal Migraines

An ocular migraine involves vision changes and might not include headaches. Despite “ocular” meaning eye, these symptoms actually originate in the brain.

There are two main types of ocular migraines:

• Migraine with aura occurs in both eyes and is more likely to cause kaleidoscope vision. Speech and movement can also be affected, and you might experience tingling. These symptoms are temporary and harmless, but since they can mimic the signs of stroke, seeing a healthcare provider is key if you haven’t had a migraine with aura in the past. 
• Retinal migraine occurs in one eye, often causing temporary blindness. Symptoms are similar to a migraine with aura, but they only affect one eye.

While ocular migraines are not mini-strokes, those who have migraines with aura are at an increased risk of developing a stroke.

Stroke or Brain Injury

Kaleidoscope vision can result from a stroke or brain injury, often along with other visual changes. Symptoms may include:

• Trouble speaking
• Facial drooping
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty walking

In a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or ministroke, you might only experience visual disturbances like kaleidoscope vision. Seeking medical attention is crucial to determine if kaleidoscope vision is part of a TIA.

Seizure

Certain seizures can be associated with kaleidoscope vision. While they might link to migraines, some cases show visual changes persisting even without headaches due to seizure activity.

Some experts note that the visual changes with these seizures can be mistaken for acephalgic migraine visual aura, a type of visual migraine that occurs without headache.

Diabetes

Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to blood vessel damage that affects the retina, and vision changes are common due to eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy. Kaleidoscope vision is a possibility.

Some studies suggest a relationship between diabetes and migraine risk, which may include kaleidoscope vision, but more research is needed to understand these links.

Multiple Sclerosis and Migraines

Studies suggest that people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis are about twice as likely as others to be diagnosed with migraine headaches, too. Because of the connection between MS and migraines, people with MS may be more likely to have episodes of kaleidoscope vision.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD and MDMA (“molly” or “ecstasy”) can sometimes cause kaleidoscope vision as well as other visual distortions.

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

A central retinal artery occlusion is a serious cause of kaleidoscope vision. This condition causes sudden one-sided vision loss. Animal studies suggest damage can be irreversible in less than one and a half hours, although some suggest a matter of minutes.

Some type of permanent vision loss or blindness in the affected eye is common. It is a rare condition, and there are no well-established treatment guidelines. Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking history
• Diabetes
• Vascular conditions like clotting problems, atherosclerosis, and inflammation of the arterial lining

Migraines are also a risk factor for developing a central retinal artery occlusion, and migraine with aura is associated with an even increased risk than migraine alone for developing the condition. If you suddenly lose vision in one eye, seek emergency medical treatment.

Brain Tumor

Brain tumors are not a common cause of kaleidoscope vision. However, if they are present in an area of the brain that affects vision, brain tumors can cause visual disturbances, like kaleidoscope vision. Some of these locations where pressure can alter vision include:

• Occipital lobe
• Brainstem
• Optic nerve
• Optic disc

Cancer that spreads from somewhere else in the body (metastatic cancer) also can affect vision.

Can Kaleidoscope Vision Be Treated?

Most kaleidoscope vision episodes resolve quickly, usually within an hour. While there is no cure, treatment depends on treating the underlying cause. For example:

• If a migraine headache is causing kaleidoscope vision, treating it can help the episodes go away.
• If the kaleidoscope vision is caused by high blood sugar due to diabetes, adhering to or altering your treatment plan from your provider may help.
• If a stroke is causing the episodes, then medical and surgical interventions are usually necessary.

How to Prevent Underlying Causes

Since migraines are the most common cause of kaleidoscope vision, treating and preventing migraines can keep episodes of kaleidoscope vision at bay. If you have migraines, you should:

• Keep a symptom journal to help you identify triggers.
• Try to avoid triggers and minimize stressors in your life.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about a daily medication to prevent migraines.
• Take your medication at the first sign of migraine or aura to interrupt an attack.

While stress itself won’t cause kaleidoscope vision, it can trigger a migraine, resulting in kaleidoscope vision. Other potential triggers can include:

• Hormonal changes in females
• Bright lights and loud noise
• Sleep disruptions
• Diet changes
• Medications (especially those that can lead to a migraine rebound effect)
• Smoking and/or alcohol use
• Environmental change (temperature, humidity)

Talk with your healthcare provider about managing other health conditions, too, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Contact a healthcare provider after experiencing an episode of kaleidoscope vision or if the vision changes last longer than an hour. They can rule out serious medical conditions and help you develop a plan to treat or prevent migraines in the future.

Your healthcare provider will likely refer you to an ophthalmologist. These specially trained medical doctors can provide a comprehensive eye exam and look for health concerns that can present in the eyes, such as early signs of a stroke.

Other signs that warrant a visit to a healthcare provider include:

• New dark spots or floaters in one eye only
• Flashes of light and loss of vision
• Tunnel vision
• Visual symptoms of a migraine that are dramatically different or longer-lasting than usual
• New-onset kaleidoscope vision

If your kaleidoscope vision is accompanied by stroke symptoms, like weakness, facial drooping, or slurred speech, seek emergency medical care.