Attacks of migraine with scotomata and blinding lights in a woman patient failed to respond to an interpretation that they were the expression of unconscious sadistic fantasies, but disappeared after they were interpreted as a defense against the apprehension of aggressive impulses. With the aid of a dream they were linked to an unconscious fantasy in which the internal mother protects her daughter from seeing the terrifying—ultimately her own envious self—by burning out her optic nerves. This occurred while the patient was facing a calamity. The actual calamity is not revealed.