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Amaurosis Fugax

Amaurosis fugax is a temporary, partial or total loss of vision in one eye that lasts for a few minutes. It is caused by a blockage in the retinal or ophthalmic arteries that reduces blood flow to the retina. Common causes include emboli from atherosclerotic carotid arteries or heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. Diagnosis involves eye exams, carotid ultrasound, and blood tests. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause such as aspirin for carotid artery blockages or endarterectomy for severe stenosis.

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Subashini G Devi
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407 views12 pages

Amaurosis Fugax

Amaurosis fugax is a temporary, partial or total loss of vision in one eye that lasts for a few minutes. It is caused by a blockage in the retinal or ophthalmic arteries that reduces blood flow to the retina. Common causes include emboli from atherosclerotic carotid arteries or heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. Diagnosis involves eye exams, carotid ultrasound, and blood tests. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause such as aspirin for carotid artery blockages or endarterectomy for severe stenosis.

Uploaded by

Subashini G Devi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as ODP, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AMAUROSIS FUGAX

Definition
● The word ''amaurosis'' comes from Greek language
which means to 'darken or obscured'
● The word 'fugax' means 'fleeing'.
● Its a sudden, temporary, partial or total loss of vision
from any cause.
Aetiology
● Circulatory – Embolic
Hypoperfusion
Carotid & Cardiac emboli
Artherosclerotic carotid artery
● Occular – Keratitis
Angiospasm
● Neurological – SLE
Optic neuritis
Multiple sclerosis
Atherosclerotic carotid artery
● Amaurosis fugax may present as a type of transient
ishcemic attack (TIA), during which an embolus
unilaterally obstructs the lumen of the retinal artery or
ophthalmic artery causing a decrease in blood flow to
the ipsilateral retina.
● Common source of these athero-emboli is an
atherosclerotic carotid artery. Severely
atherosclerotic carotid artery causes amaurosis fugax
due to its stenosis of blood flow, leading to ischemia.
Cardiac Emboli
● Thrombotic emboli arising from the heart causes
luminal obstruction of the retinal, ophthalmic, and/or
ciliary arteries, causing decreased blood flow to the
ipsilateral retina

● examples being those arising due to (1) atrial


fibrillation, (2) valvular abnormalities including post-
rheumatic valvular disease, mitral valve prolapse, and a
bicuspid aortic valve, and (3) artrial myxomas.
Temporary Vasospasm
● leads to decreased blood flow that can cause
amaurosis fugax. Generally, these episodes last no
longer that five minutes, and have been associated
with exercise
● Observations suggest that a systemic hemodynamic
challenge provoke[s] the release of vasospastic
substance in the rentinal vasculature of one eye."
Symptoms
● Transient monocular vision loss that appears as a
"curtain'' coming down vertically into the field vision in
one eye;" however, this altitudinal visual loss is
relatively uncommon.
● Others includes a monocular blindness, dimming,
fogging, or blurring. Total or sectorial typically lasts
only a few seconds, but may last minutes or even
hours. Duration depends on the etiology of the vision
loss.
Sign and Tests
● complete eye and neurological exam. In some cases,
an eye exam will reveal a bright spot where the clot
is blocking the retinal artery.
● A carotid ultrasound or magnetic resonance
angiography (MRA) scan should be done to evaluate
a blockage in the carotid artery.
● Routine blood tests such as cholesterol and blood
sugar should be done to check your risk for
atherosclerosis, which increases with high
cholesterol and diabetes.
Treatments
● directed therapies to treat that underlying etiology
should be initiated
● If the amaurosis fugax is caused by an
atherosclerotic lesion, aspirin is indicated, and a
cardiac endarterectomy if the stenosis is surgically
accessible
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Brach Retinal Vein Occlusion

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