Amaurosis fugax syndrome

General: Caused by malignant 949e45j hypertension; often occurs in association with heavy smoking; may indicate vascular insufficiency of the vertebrobasilar arterial system; may precede a cerebrovascular accident and not infrequently seen in vascular insufficiency problems of the carotid arterial system; the cause, if found, is commonly an abnormality in the ipsilateral carotid artery or a cardiac source of embolism.

Ocular: Partial blindness in short attacks to permanent complete blindness; scintillating scotoma; teichopsia; retinal arteriolar spasm; signs of arteriolar sclerosis.

Clinical: Malignant hypertension; atherosclerosis; expanding lesions of the frontal or temporal lobe; vascular insufficiency.

Guerry D III, Wiesinger H. Ocular complications in carotid angiography. Am J Ophthalmol 1953; 55:241.

Haney WP, Preston RE. Ocular complications of carotid arteriography in carotid occlusive disease. Arch Ophthalmol 1983; 67:127.

Magalini SI, Scrascia E. Dictionary of Medical Syndromes, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1981.

Muller M, et al. Carotid artery disease in vascular ocular syndromes. J Clin Neuro-Ophthalmol 1993; 13:175-l80.

Smit RL, et al. The source of embolism in amaurosis fugax and retinal artery occlusion. Int Ophthalmol 83-86.