Differential Diagnosis for Unilateral Vision Loss with Loss of Color Perception
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Optic Neuritis: This condition is characterized by inflammation of the optic nerve, leading to unilateral vision loss and impaired color perception. It is often associated with multiple sclerosis and is a common cause of optic neuropathy in young adults.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion (CRAO): This condition occurs when the central retinal artery becomes blocked, resulting in sudden, painless, unilateral vision loss and loss of color perception.
- Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: This condition is caused by a lack of blood flow to the optic nerve, leading to vision loss and impaired color perception, often in older adults.
- Retinal Detachment: While not always associated with loss of color perception, a retinal detachment can cause unilateral vision loss and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as floaters and flashes of light.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Giant Cell Arteritis: This condition is an inflammatory disease that can cause optic neuropathy and vision loss if left untreated. It is essential to consider this diagnosis in older adults, as prompt treatment with corticosteroids can prevent further vision loss.
- Orbital Cellulitis or Abscess: Infections in the orbit can cause vision loss, pain, and other symptoms, and require urgent medical attention to prevent serious complications.
- Rare diagnoses
- Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A rare genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss, often in young adults, and can be accompanied by loss of color perception.
- Traumatic Optic Neuropathy: A condition caused by trauma to the optic nerve, which can result in vision loss and impaired color perception.
- Infiltrative Optic Neuropathy (e.g., from sarcoidosis or lymphoma): Rare conditions that can cause optic neuropathy and vision loss due to infiltration of the optic nerve by inflammatory or malignant cells.