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Understand temporary blindness and its resolution with Meri Sehat. Gain insights for prompt and effective eye care.

What Is Temporary Blindness And How Is It Resolved?

Introduction

Imagine having the lights suddenly turn off in one eye, only to have them flicker back on moments later &ndash; that&#39;s how it feels to have amaurosis fugax, a temporary blip in vision caused by a temporary reduction in blood flow to the retina.

But you don&#39;t know that; you have no idea if the vision loss is fleeting and will be restored. 
&nbsp;

Understanding Temporary Blindness : Causes and Solutions

Amaurosis fugax is also known as transient monocular blindness, transient monocular visual loss, temporary blindness, or episodic blindness.

The name of the condition originates from the Greek word &quot;amaurosis,&quot; meaning dark, and the Latin word &quot;fugax,&quot; meaning fleeting. It can occur in one or both eyes due to reduced blood flow to the retina or the optic nerve, key eye components responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain. The vision loss typically lasts from a few seconds to several minutes and usually resolves independently.

While amaurosis fugax is not a disease itself, it is an emergency. Often, it&rsquo;s a warning sign of serious underlying health problems, such as carotid artery disease, that can lead to<a href="https://merisehat.pk/disease/stroke"> stroke</a>. Therefore, it is important for individuals who experience temporary vision loss to seek prompt medical attention so that a proper diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be provided. 
&nbsp;

Amaurosis fugax can occur in both eyes. However, it is commonly seen in just one eye.

Note: If you experience temporary vision loss in either eye, it is important to seek prompt medical attention to determine the underlying cause and prevent possible complications. 
&nbsp;

The symptoms of temporary blindness can include:

<ul>
	<li>Sudden vision loss or blurring in one eye</li>
	<li>Reduced or absent peripheral vision</li>
	<li>Reduced or absent color vision</li>
	<li>A temporary dark or &quot;curtain-like&quot; veil over part of the visual field</li>
	<li>Double vision 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

It&#39;s important to note that the symptoms of amaurosis fugax last anywhere between a few minutes to an hour, and full vision usually returns.

Note: It&rsquo;s also possible to experience temporary blindness as a symptom of a transient ischemic attack, i.e., as a precursor to a stroke. This means that in addition to the aforementioned symptoms, you&rsquo;ll also have temporary stroke-like symptoms, including facial droop on one side, difficulty speaking, and sudden weakness on one side of the body. 
&nbsp;

Amaurosis fugax can occur due to:

<ul>
	<li>Blockage Of Blood Flow, usually due to blood clots or plaque in the same carotid artery that leads to blindness. This can be because of atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular ischemia, retinal arteriolar emboli, or other medical conditions.</li>
	<li>An Underlying Medical Issue, such as carotid artery disease. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Amaurosis fugax can also occur due to other disorders such as:

<ul>
	<li>Optic neuritis</li>
	<li>Polyarteritis nodosa</li>
	<li>Migraine</li>
	<li>Brain tumor</li>
	<li>Head injury</li>
	<li>Multiple sclerosis</li>
	<li>Sickle cell anemia</li>
	<li>Elevated plasma viscosity</li>
	<li>Hypoperfusion</li>
	<li>Vasospasm</li>
	<li>Hypercoagulable states</li>
	<li>History of systemic lupus erythematosus</li>
	<li>Closed-angle glaucoma 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Rare causes of temporary vision loss include:

<ul>
	<li>Retinal Migraine &ndash; Causes partial or total blindness in one eye only for 10-30 minutes usually before or during a headache</li>
	<li>Giant Cell Arteritis &ndash; Inflammation in the lining of arteries causes vision loss in people aged 50 and above</li>
	<li>Retinal Vein Occlusion &ndash; The vein in retina is blocked due to a blood clot, usually in people who have diabetes and hypertension</li>
	<li>Epileptic Seizures &ndash; 5-10% of people with epilepsy may experience vision loss during and after a seizure</li>
	<li>Papilledema &ndash; It occurs because of abscess, blood clot, tumor, infection, high blood pressure, and certain medications</li>
	<li>Uhthoff Phenomenon &ndash; This affects only people with multiple sclerosis and is rare even among them. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Yes!

Amaurosis fugax is considered a potentially serious condition since it is a symptom of a larger underlying problem, usually related to blood flow to the eye. It can indicate a higher risk of stroke, carotid artery disease, or retinal artery occlusion. According to studies, there&rsquo;s a 2% risk of recurrent stroke after 1 year in patients with the monocular transient visual loss associated with atheromatous carotid artery disease and an approximately 16% risk of ipsilateral stroke after 3 years in patients with associated severe internal carotid artery stenosis<a href="#accordion">[6]</a>. 
&nbsp;

Temporary blindness itself cannot lead to permanent blindness, but it can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition that can cause permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. For example, temporary vision loss can be a symptom of a stroke, high blood pressure, or a migraine headache, all of which can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated appropriately. 
&nbsp;

NOTE: It is important to seek prompt medical attention if you experience temporary blindness. 
&nbsp;

The risk of temporary vision loss due to decreased blood flow increases with age. Additionally, it can affect people with a history of:

<ul>
	<li>High blood pressure</li>
	<li>Heart disease</li>
	<li>Diabetes</li>
	<li>Multiple sclerosis</li>
	<li>High cholesterol</li>
	<li>Alcohol abuse</li>
	<li>Smoking</li>
	<li>Cocaine use 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The treatment regimen for temporary blindness depends upon its underlying cause. For instance, if the blood clot caused transient vision loss, your healthcare provider will be concerned about the possibility of stroke. They may recommend2:

<ul>
	<li>Blood Thinner (e.g., warfarin or aspirin)</li>
	<li>Drugs To Reduce High Blood Pressure (e.g., beta-blocker, angiotensin-converting enzymes inhibitors, Angiotensin-II receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazides)</li>
	<li>Surgery (e.g., carotid endarterectomy) to clear plaque buildup</li>
	<li>Lifestyle Changes, including exercising daily, reducing intake of processed or high-fat foods, reducing stress, stopping smoking, managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Seek emergency medical attention if you have sudden blindness in one or both eyes. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can often avert permanent blindness. 
&nbsp;

Conclusion

In conclusion, temporary blindness or amaurosis fugax can occur in both eyes, but it is more commonly seen in just one eye. This happens due to the loss of blood flow to the eye from the heart. If you experience temporary vision loss in either eye, it is important to seek prompt medical attention to determine the underlying cause and prevent possible complications. 
&nbsp;

Key Takeaways

<ul>
	<li>Amaurosis fugax, also known as transient vision loss or temporary blindness, originates from the Greek word &quot;amaurosis,&quot; meaning dark, and the Latin word &quot;fugax,&quot; meaning fleeting.</li>
	<li>It is a medical condition in which an individual experiences a temporary loss of vision in one or both eyes.</li>
	<li>This can occur as a result of reduced blood flow to the retina or the optic nerve, the key components of the eye responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain.</li>
	<li>The vision loss typically lasts for a few minutes and usually resolves on its own.</li>
	<li>Amaurosis fugax is often a warning sign of more serious underlying health problems, such as carotid artery disease, that can lead to stroke.</li>
	<li>It is important for individuals who experience temporary vision loss to seek prompt medical attention so that a proper diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment can be provided.</li>
</ul>