[Transient monocular blindness: Vascular causes and differential diagnoses]

J Fr Ophtalmol. 2018 May;41(5):453-461. doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2017.06.027.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Transient monocular blindness is an acute episode of ischemic origin in which one eye has profound visual loss, followed by full recovery within one hour. Transient monocular blindness most often occurs in the setting of retinal ischemia secondary to carotid embolism, but other mechanisms have been reported, including thrombosis (most often in the setting of giant cell arteritis), hemodynamic disorders (secondary to severe carotid stenosis) or vasospasm. Transient monocular blindness is considered a transient ischemic attack originating in the carotid arteries and must benefit from the same management as transient ischemic attack involving the brain, in order to prevent a subsequent stroke.

Keywords: Accident ischémique transitoire; Accident vasculaire cérébral; Cécité monoculaire transitoire; Ischémie rétinienne; Retinal ischemia; Stroke; Transient ischemic attack; Transient monocular blindness.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amaurosis Fugax / diagnosis*
  • Amaurosis Fugax / epidemiology
  • Amaurosis Fugax / etiology*
  • Blindness / diagnosis
  • Blindness / epidemiology
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / complications
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / complications
  • Vascular Diseases / complications*
  • Vascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Vascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Vision Disorders / diagnosis
  • Vision Disorders / epidemiology
  • Vision Disorders / etiology