Amaurosis fugax: symptoms, causes and treatment

What is amaurosis fugax

Amaurosis fugax is a condition of vision loss over a short period of time. This disease arises due to a lack of blood flow to the retina of the eye. This condition usually occurs suddenly and disappears within a few seconds or minutes.

How common is this condition?

Amaurosis fugax is a common disorder in everyone. This condition can occur in men or women of all ages. Always consult a doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms of amaurosis fugax

The symptoms of amaurosis fugax are sudden and temporary loss of vision. You will feel as if something is covering your eyes. This situation can occur alone or together with other neurological symptoms.

In most cases, vision loss can last from a few seconds to minutes. Quoted from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, this condition does not cause pain.

In some cases, this condition becomes a symptom transient ischemic attack or a mild stroke. This causes temporary stroke-like symptoms.

The following are the symptoms of amaurosis fugax associated with mild strokes:

• Temporary vision loss
• Trouble speaking
• Face drooping or stiffness on one side of the face
• One side of the body feels suddenly weak and stiff.

In more serious conditions, this disease can cause blockage of blood flow to the brain.

When should I see a doctor?

See a doctor right away if you suddenly become unable to see. You are also advised to go to the nearest hospital immediately if you experience symptoms, such as weak muscles and nerves, headaches, and dizziness.

Causes of amaurosis fugax

The cause of amaurosis fugax is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the eye. Generally, blood clots or plaque (a small amount of cholesterol or fat) occurs in the blood vessels.

Narrowed blood vessels can also reduce blood flow to the eyes. The most common cause of this condition is a plaque or blood clot that blocks the carotid arteries. It is the same as when someone is blind.

Risk factors

This condition usually occurs in people over 50 years of age. Your risk of developing amaurosis fugax is greater if you have the following conditions:

• Hypertension
• High cholesterol
• Smoke
• Claudicationo
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Cocaine use

Medline Plus mentions that there are various other conditions that can also increase your risk of getting amaurosis fugax, including:

• Other eye problems, such as inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis)
• Blood vessel disease called polyarteritis nodosa
• Migraine headaches
• Brain tumor
• Head injury
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the tests to diagnose this condition?

Your doctor will usually check your medical history, including whether you have hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, and whether you smoke.

In addition, the doctor may also perform imaging methods (see images), to diagnose this condition. Some of the possible examination methods to check for amaurosis fugax, namely:

• Echocardiography : An examination to find clots in the heart, and observe the process of movement towards the brain.
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA): Uses magnetic field energy and sound waves to obtain an image of blood vessels.
• Vascular examination: Uses a dye injected into a vein to capture a special X-ray film.

What are the treatment options for amaurosis fugax?

This condition will be treated depending on the cause. If amaurosis fugax is caused by a blood clot or plaque, treatment focuses on stroke prevention. Here are ways that can help you reduce your risk of stroke:

• Avoid fatty foods
• Cut down on alcohol consumption
• Exercise regularly, which is 30 minutes per day if you are not overweight and 60-90 minutes per day if you are overweight.
• Quit smoking
• Control blood pressure
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or hardened arteries, your bad cholesterol (LDL) level should be below 70 mg / dL
• Follow your doctor's recommendations if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease

In addition, your doctor may also recommend aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or other blood-thinning drugs to reduce the risk of stroke.

The doctor may also not give you any medicines if your condition is considered under control. You may only be asked to have your heart and carotid arteries checked.

If amaurosis fugax is not diagnosed or treated, you are at risk of having a major stroke later in life. Most people who are not treated are at risk of having a major stroke within 12 months.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat amaurosis fugax?

Some of the lifestyle changes or ways you can do at home to treat amaurosis fugax are:

• Control blood sugar levels if you have diabetes
• Control blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood to prevent atherosclerosis or blockage of blood vessels
• Using drugs prescribed by a doctor in the treatment process
• Quit smoking. Cigarettes cause temporary blindness and other diseases
• Exercising for at least 30 minutes per day of the week can manage chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol
• Healthy habits and taking steps to maintain an ideal body weight can help a person reduce their risk for amaurosis fugax.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.