Acute Vision Loss

Prim Care. 2015 Sep;42(3):347-61. doi: 10.1016/j.pop.2015.05.010.

Abstract

Acute vision loss can be transient (lasting <24 hours) or persistent (lasting >24 hours). When patients present with acute vision loss, it is important to ascertain the duration of vision loss and whether it is a unilateral process affecting one eye or a bilateral process affecting both eyes. This article focuses on causes of acute vision loss in the nontraumatic setting and provides management pearls to help health care providers better triage these patients.

Keywords: Amaurosis fugax; Ischemic optic neuropathy; Migraine; Optic neuritis; Papilledema; Retinal detachment; Retinal vascular occlusion; Vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Vitreous hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Amaurosis Fugax / diagnosis
  • Amaurosis Fugax / therapy
  • Blindness / etiology*
  • Blindness / physiopathology
  • Blindness / therapy
  • Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / diagnosis
  • Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / therapy
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders / diagnosis
  • Migraine Disorders / therapy
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / therapy
  • Optic Neuritis / diagnosis
  • Optic Neuritis / therapy
  • Papilledema / diagnosis
  • Papilledema / therapy
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / diagnosis
  • Retinal Artery Occlusion / therapy
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnosis
  • Retinal Detachment / therapy
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / diagnosis
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / therapy
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / therapy
  • Vitreous Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Vitreous Hemorrhage / therapy