Amaurosis Fugax

The term amaurosis fugax means "transient darkening" and it is used by doctors to describe a temporary loss of vision through one eye. This condition can be caused by diseases that affect blood flow to the eye such as atherosclerosis of the internal carotid or ophthalmic arteries, giant cell arteritis, high blood viscosity from uncontrolled diabetes or dehydration, or abnormal blood clot formation from blood clotting disorders. It can also be caused by other reasons such as some types of glaucoma, increased intracranial pressure, and some tumors.

When amaurosis fugax is caused by a blood clot or a cholesterol plaque, an immediate search for the source of these embolic fragments should be started due to the increased risk of stroke. Of course, no one can tell which of the above causes of transient visual loss led to amaurosis fugax without performing certain sophisticated medical tests, making nearly every case worth investigating. In a certain sense amaurosis fugax should be considered as a second chance to prevent something terrible from happening: A stroke. So if you ever have experienced transient loss of vision through one eye, you should know that this could be a warning sign that a stroke is about to happen. Get to a doctor as soon as possible!

Recommended reading:
Six Ways to Stay Stroke-Free
Blood Thinners and Stroke Prevention
Carotid Stenosis