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Vision loss whether acute or chronic is a common presenting complaint to the ED. This will be the first in a series of pearls on the subject. This pearl will address the nomenclature used by ophthalmology based on the length of vision loss.
• Transient visual obscuration - Episodes lasting seconds. Usually associated with papilledema and increased intracranial pressure.
• Amaurosis fugax - Brief, fleeting attack of monocular partial or total blindness that lasts seconds to minutes
• Transient monocular visual loss or transient monocular blindness - A more persistent vision loss that lasts minutes or longer
• Transient bilateral visual loss - Episodes affecting one or both eyes or both cerebral hemispheres and causing visual loss
• Ocular infarction - Persistent ischemic damage to the eye, resulting in permanent vision loss
References
- Farino GA, Feliciano A, Lorenzo NY. Sudden Visual Loss. eMedicine. Accessed November 27, 2009.
- Hedges TR. The terminology of transient visual loss due to vascular insufficiency. Stroke. Sep-Oct 1984;15(5):907-8.