From the Guidelines
Amaurosis fugax typically presents as a temporary, painless loss of vision in one eye, often described as a shade drawn upward or downward over the field of view. The symptoms of Amaurosis Fugax can be summarized as follows:
- Transient monocular blindness with sudden loss of vision
- Vision loss often described as a shade drawn upward or downward over the field of view
- The condition is usually caused by temporary reduction of blood flow to an eye, with the most common cause being atherosclerosis of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery 1
- Other causes of transient monocular blindness include carotid artery stenosis or occlusion, dissection, arteritis, radiation-induced arteriopathy, arterial embolism, cardiogenic embolism, atheroembolism, hypotension, intracranial hypertension, glaucoma, migraine, and vasospastic or occlusive disease of the ophthalmic artery 1
- The risk of stroke is lower among patients with transient monocular blindness than among those with hemispheric TIA, but permanent blindness may occur in the affected eye as a result of the initial or subsequent episodes 1
- The 3-year risk of stroke with medical treatment alone in patients with transient monocular blindness is related to the number of stroke risk factors, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and cigarette smoking 1
- Patients may experience additional symptoms such as light-headedness, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, or confusion if the condition is related to a broader cerebrovascular event.
- Amaurosis fugax should be considered a warning sign of potential stroke risk and requires prompt medical evaluation, as it may indicate underlying carotid stenosis or other serious cardiovascular conditions that need treatment to prevent more permanent vision loss or stroke.
From the Research
Typical Symptoms of Amaurosis Fugax
The typical symptoms of Amaurosis Fugax include:
- Sudden loss of vision in one eye 2, 3, 4, 5
- Transient visual loss, lasting from seconds to minutes 2, 4
- Unilateral visual symptoms, affecting only one eye 2, 3, 5
- Visual disturbances, such as telescoping of vision, in some cases 2
- Loss of vision that occurs upon exposure to bright light, in some cases 2
Underlying Causes
The underlying causes of Amaurosis Fugax include:
- Embolic events, such as those caused by atherosclerosis of the internal carotid artery 2, 6, 4, 5
- Hypoperfusion, caused by significant stenosis of the carotid artery 2, 3
- Vasospasm of the internal carotid artery, leading to hypoperfusion 4
- Other conditions, such as ocular migraines, vasculitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus 4