Sudden Visual Loss: Differential Diagnoses & Workup

References

1. Hedges TR. The terminology of transient visual loss due to vascular insufficiency. Stroke. Sep-Oct 1984;15(5):907-8. [Medline].

2. Wray SH. Visual aspects of extracranial internal carotid artery disease. In: Bernstein EF, ed. Amaurosis Fugax. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1988:72-80.

3. Aldrich EM, Lee AW, Chen CS, et al. Local intra-arterial fibrinolysis administered in aliquots for the treatment of central retinal artery occlusion: the Johns Hopkins Hospital experience. Stroke. Jun 2008;39(6):1746-50. [Medline].

4. Bruno A, Corbett JJ, Biller J, Adams HP Jr, Qualls C. Transient monocular visual loss patterns and associated vascular abnormalities. Stroke. Jan 1990;21(1):34-9. [Medline].

5. Burde RM. Amaurosis fugax. An overview. J Clin Neuroophthalmol. Sep 1989;9(3):185-9. [Medline].

6. Carter JE. Chronic ocular ischemia and carotid vascular disease. In: Bernestein EF, ed. Amaurosis Fugax. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1988:118-134.

7. FDA. US Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research [Web site]. Available at http://www.fda.gov/cder/. Accessed November 2008.

8. Fisher CM. Observations of the fundus oculi in transient monocular blindness. Neurology. May 1959;9(5):333-47. [Medline].

9. Pfaffenbach DD, Hollenhorst RW. Morbidity and survivorship of patients with embolic cholesterol crystals in the ocular fundus. Am J Ophthalmol. Jan 1973;75(1):66-72. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

sudden visual loss, sudden vision loss, acute visual dysfunction, transient visual loss, eye ischemia, transient visual obscuration, TVO, papilledema, increased intracranial pressure, amaurosis fugax, monocular blindness, partial blindness, total blindness, transient monocular visual loss, TMVL, transient monocular blindness, TMB, transient bilateral visual loss, TBVL, ocular infarction, ischemic damage to the eye, internal carotid artery disease, ICA disease, angle-closure glaucoma, central retinal artery occlusion, CRAO, branch retinal artery occlusion, BRAO, ischemia of the optic nerve, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, AION, ruptured globe, decreased vision, nonarteric anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, NAION, migraine, scintillating scotoma, intraocular foreign body, cardiac disease, stenotic vascular disease, carotid or vertebral artery atherosclerotic disease, fibromuscular dysplasia, arteritis, carotid artery dissection, vertebral artery dissection, platelet-containing emboli,antiphospholipid syndrome, anemia, hypercoagulable states

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Gino A Farina, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Gino A Farina, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Angel Feliciano, MD, Consulting Physician, EMS Medical Director, St Vincent and St Mary's Hospital, Infinity HealthCare, Inc
Angel Feliciano, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD, Chief Editor, eMedicine Neurology; Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants
Nicholas Y Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP, Urgent Care Physician
Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

J James Rowsey, MD, Former Director of Corneal Services, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute, Florida
J James Rowsey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Medical Association, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida Medical Association, Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, Sigma Xi, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.