Amaurosis Fugax is the temporary loss of vision in one eye due to the absence of blood circulation to the retina . In our experience, on the other hand, patients with amaurosis assure that a gray or black spot appears in the visual field that goes down the eye to compromise all vision for a few seconds or minutes.
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Determining the cause of this condition is important to treat it in time and avoid further complications associated with this symptom, such as diseases of the immune system and brain conditions.
Alternative names
Transient monocular blindness; Transient monocular vision loss; TMVL; Transient monocular vision loss; Transient binocular vision loss; TBVL; Temporary vision loss – fleeting amaurosis
Causes Of Amaurosis Fugax
The causes of transient amaurosis can be classified into five groups:
- Embolic,
- Hemodynamic,
- Ocular,
- Neurological,
- Idiopathic (cause not identified).
The diabetes , hypertension and smoking are factors that increase the risk of this condition. Embolic and hemodynamic origin Transient loss of monocular vision is due to a temporary reduction in blood flow to the retinal artery, ophthalmic artery, or ciliary artery, resulting in decreased retinal circulation.
Fugax amaurosis is not a disease in itself. it is a warning sign of other disorders. It can occur from different reasons. One cause is a piece of plaque blocks an artery in the eye or when a blood clot blocks an artery in the eye. The clot or plaque usually travels from a longer artery, such as the carotid artery in the neck or in the eye, or can be in the heart.
Arteries will block due to Plaque, It is a hard substance that forms when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up on the walls of your arteries.
Risk factors include:
- Heart disease, especially irregular heartbeat
- Alcoholism
- Cocaine use
- Diabetes
- Family history of stroke
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Advanced life span
- smoking one pack a day, people find them at double risk for stroke
Fugax amaurosis can also be caused by other disorders, such as:
- Other eye problems, such as inflammation of the optic nerve ( optic neuritis )
- A disease of the blood vessels called polyarteritis nodosa
- Migraines
- Brain tumor
- Head injury
- Multiple sclerosis ( MS ), an inflammation of the nerves because the body’s immune system cells attack the nervous system
- An autoimmune disease in which cells of the body’s immune system attack healthy tissues throughout the body
Diagnosis And Symptoms
Symptoms include sudden loss of vision in one of the eyes. It may lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes. Subsequently, vision returns to normal. Also, in some people describe this loss of vision as a gray or black shadow that runs down the eyes.
Diagnosis begins with an evaluation of the medical history, and followed by a physical examination. The evidence includes:
- Blood tests. Several laboratory tests must be ordered to examine some of the most common causes, including complete blood count , overall sedimentation rate, lipid profile, and blood glucose level.
- Imaging tests. An ophthalmologist can examine the eye and perform ultrasound exams to check the blood supply. If the ultrasound results are normal, a carotid angiography may be performed. These tests are used to explore possible causes, in hopes of identifying the cause of the patient’s vision loss.
- Fleeting amaurosis increases your risk for stroke.
Treatment of Amaurosis Fugax
However, The treatment of Fugax amaurosis depends on what causes it. For Instance, When the Fugax amaurosis is due to a blood clot or plaque, the concern is to prevent a stroke. The following can help prevent a stroke:
The treatment of transient amaurosis depends on the cause:
- Stroke If transient amaurosis is caused by a stroke, it should be treated immediately with ozone therapy for stroke patients to prevent brain damage
- Atherosclerotic lesion . An obstruction to the eye’s blood supply may require surgery to treat the obstruction or a stent to prevent an obstruction from reoccurring.
- Glaucoma . If transient amaurosis is caused by a chronic disease like glaucoma, this may be a sign that better management or more aggressive treatment is needed.
Can it be Prevented Amaurosis Fugax?
Avoiding the consumption of fats and opting for a balanced diet rich in fruits, proteins and vegetables is an excellent way to control blood cholesterol levels and prevent diseases associated with amaurosis such as diabetes and hypertension .
Also, it is important to identify if there is a family history of transient blindness to discuss it with the GP and take actions that help prevent the causes of this problem.
- Visual loss or blindness that affects from birth due to the absence of photoreceptor cells known as rods and cones. Loss of vision can also observe during the early months or years of life and, in most cases, it will be permanent.
- Alteration in the curve of the cornea or keratoconus that may be caused by the person repeatedly rubbing his eyes.
- Sunken eyes, better known as enophthalmos.
- Strabismus.
- Irregular eye movements.
- Light sensitivity.
- Weak pupillary response.
- Lens opacity.
The doctor may also recommend:
- Do not do any treatment. Only regular visits may need to check the health of your heart and carotid arteries.
- Acetylsalicylic acid ( aspirin ), warfarin (Coumadin), or other blood thinners to lower the risk of stroke.
If a large part of the carotid artery appears to be blocked, consequently, carotid endarterectomy surgery is performed to remove the obstruction. The decision to have surgery is also based on your general health.
When to contact a medical professional
For Instance, call your healthcare provider if any type of vision loss occurs. If symptoms persist for more than a few minutes or if vision loss is accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
