Acute visual loss is a rapid loss of the ability to see. It is caused by many ocular conditions like retinal detachment,

glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for fluid within the eye rem ...

macular degeneration Macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), is a medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field. Early on there are often no symptoms. Over time, however, som ...

, and

giant cell arteritis Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of large blood vessels. Symptoms may include headache, pain over the temples, flu-like symptoms, double vision, and difficulty opening the mouth. ...

, etc.

Main causes

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment should be considered if there were preceding flashes or floaters, or if there is a new visual field defect in one eye. If treated early enough, retinal tear and detachment can have a good outcome.

Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma should be considered if there is painful loss of vision with a red eye, nausea or vomiting. The eye pressure will be very high typically greater than 40 mmHg. Emergent laser treatment to the iris may prevent blindness.

Macular degeneration

Wet macular degeneration should be considered in older people with new distortion of their vision with bleeding in the

macula The macula (/ˈmakjʊlə/) or macula lutea is an oval-shaped pigmented area in the center of the retina of the human eye and in other animals. The macula in humans has a diameter of around and is subdivided into the umbo, foveola, foveal av ...

. Vision can often be regained with prompt eye injections with anti-VEGF agents.

Giant cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis should be considered in an older person with jaw claudication, temporal pain, and tiredness. Placing the person on steroids might save both their vision and decrease their risk of stroke. Without treatment a person can quickly go blind in both eyes.

Vascular occlusions

Central retinal artery occlusion Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a disease of the eye where the flow of blood through the central retinal artery is blocked (occluded). There are several different causes of this occlusion; the most common is carotid artery atheroscler ...

: CRAO is characterized by painless, acute vision loss in one eye. *

Central retinal vein occlusion Central retinal vein occlusion, also CRVO, is when the central retinal vein becomes occluded, usually through thrombosis. The central retinal vein is the venous equivalent of the central retinal artery and both may become occluded. Since the centra ...

: CRVO causes sudden, painless vision loss that can be mild to severe. *

Branch retinal vein occlusion Branch retinal vein occlusion is a common retinal vascular disease of the elderly. It is caused by the occlusion of one of the branches of central retinal vein. Signs and symptoms Patients with branch retinal vein occlusion usually have a sudden ...

: sudden painless vision loss or visual field defect are the main symptom of BRVO. *

Branch retinal artery occlusion Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is a rare retinal vascular disorder in which one of the branches of the central retinal artery is obstructed. Presentation Abrupt painless loss of vision in the visual field corresponding to territory of the ...

: BRAO may also cause acute painless loss of vision.

Vitreous hemorrhage

It is one of the most common causes of acute or subacute decrease in vision.

Hyphema

Blood in the

anterior chamber The anterior chamber ( AC) is the aqueous humor-filled space inside the eye between the iris and the cornea's innermost surface, the endothelium. Hyphema, anterior uveitis and glaucoma are three main pathologies in this area. In hyphema, blood f ...

of the eye is known as hyphema. Severe hyphema covering pupillary area can cause sudden decrease in vision.

References

{{Eye pathology Blindness