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Amaurosis fugax, or temporary monocular blindness, can be a sign of a serious medical emergency and may require medical attention. Causes include a temporary cut off of blood supply to the eye, a stroke, or glaucoma. Treatment options depend on the cause.
Amaurosis fugax is a brief loss of vision in one eye. It is sometimes known as temporary monocular blindness. Fleeting vision loss can be unnerving and can even be a sign that something could be seriously wrong, making it important to see a doctor even after the vision loss has resolved. In some cases, temporary blindness can be an indicator of a serious medical emergency. Once the cause is identified, it can be treated to prevent further problems in the future.
A number of problems can lead to amaurosis fugax. One is a temporary cut off of the blood supply to the eye. Another is a stroke or other type of neurological event that interrupts the signals sent from the eye to the brain. Certain eye conditions such as glaucoma can also cause amaurosis fugax, as can exposure to centrifugal force, which is why the vision in one eye sometimes seems clouded or blurry after certain types of carnival rides.
Some people describe the experience as feeling like someone has drawn a blind or curtain over one eye. In other cases, the eye simply goes dark or someone experiences blurry, blurred, or clouded vision. An attack of amaurosis fugax can last from a few seconds to several hours, depending on the cause. In some cases, vision loss can become permanent if not addressed.
When someone presents with amaurosis fugax or tells a doctor that they have recently had fleeting vision loss, an ophthalmologist can examine the eye and do some medical imaging studies to check the blood supply to the eye and other obvious problems that may be involved in vision loss. The patient may also be referred for a neurological evaluation to see if the problem is neurological in origin. These tests are used to explore potential causes, in hopes of identifying why the patient has been experiencing vision loss.
After the cause has been identified, treatment options can be made available. If, for example, amaurosis fugax is caused by a stroke, the stroke should be treated right away to prevent brain damage. A blockage in the blood supply to the eye, on the other hand, may require surgery to address the blockage or a stent installed so the blockages can’t recur. If amaurosis fugax is caused by a chronic condition like glaucoma, it may be a sign that better management or more aggressive treatment is needed.
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