UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Sudden Vision Loss Causes

Category: Ophthamology

Keywords: Sudden Vision Loss (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/28/2009 by Michael Bond, MD (Updated: 12/5/2009)
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Some of the causes of acute vision loss are:

Cardiac Causes include:
- Emboli -- causes can be atherosclerotic plagues, atrial fibrillation, endocarditis.
- Arteritis
- Dissection
Hematologic causes
- Hypercoaguable state
- Hyperviscosity
- Anemia
Ocular Causes
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- Papilledema/neoplasm: Intracranial hypertension
- Intraocular foreign bodies:
- Central retinal artery occlusion
- Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- Ruptured globe
Miscellaneous
- Migraine
- Hysteria
- Drugs (i.e.: viagra and its counterparts)

Farino GA, Feliciano A, Lorenzo NY. Sudden Visual Loss. eMedicine. Accessed November 27, 2009.