Amaurosis fugax causes

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor-In-Chief: Marcelo R. Zacarkim, M.D. [2]

Overview

Amaurosis fugax is a symptom of carotid artery disease. It occurs when a piece of plaque in a carotid artery breaks off and travels to the retinal artery in the eye. The carotid arteries provide the main blood supply to the brain. They are located on each side of the neck under the jaw. Plaque is a hard substance that forms when fat, cholesterol, and other substances build up in the walls of arteries. Pieces of plaque can block blood flow. In people with amaurosis fugax, vision loss continues as long as the blood supply to the retinal artery is blocked. Atherosclerosis of the arteries in the neck is the main risk factor for this condition. Risk factors for atherosclerosis include heart disease, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Acute hypovolemia Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome Atherosclerosis Blindness Blood coagulation disorders Blood viscosity Cardiac emboli (valve, mural thrombi, intracardiac tumor) Cardiac failure Carotid artery stenosis Carotid bifurcation thromboembolism Carotid narrowing Carotid occlusive disease Carotid stenosis Central retinal vein occlusion Cerebral transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) Chiasm compression Collagen Decreased blood flow (ischemia) to the retina Diabetes mellitus Disease susceptibility Distal internal carotid artery atheroembolism Drug abuse-related (intravascular emboli) Dysrhythmia Elastin Extracranial arterial occlusive disease Fatigue Frequent urination Giant cell arteritis Glaucoma Hollenhorst plaque Hyperlipidemia Hypertension Hypofibrinolysis Hypoperfusion (from cardiac failure) Hypotension

Hypovolemia Idiopathic Inflammatory arteritis (Takayasu's arteritis) Ipsilateral carotid disease Irregular ulcerated lesion Ischemic stroke Local emboli (ipsilateral internal carotid artery) Malignant arterial hypertension Migraine aura Multiple sclerosis Neurologic disorder Nonvascular causes (hemorrhage, pressure, tumor, congenital) Nonvascular ophthalmic disorder Obesity Ocular ischemic syndrome Oculomotor disturbances Optic nerve Optic neuritis Orthostatic hypotension Papilledema Preexisting asymmetric occlusive vascular disease Psychogenic Reduced cardiac output (from a dysrhythmia) Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) Retinal artery thrombosis Retinal emboli Retinal migraine Retinal vein occlusion Stroke Sudden vision changes Systemic diseases Systemic diseases disturbing blood viscosity or coagulability Temporal arteritis Thrombophilia Tingling (or numbness in hands or feet) Unexplained weight loss Vasospasm Very dry skin