Temporary vision loss
Vision returns within 24 hours at the latest. It usually resolves within the first hour.
 At the level of seconds > >papilledema
 A few minutes >> amaurosis fugax (carotid stenosis)
 10-60 minutes > > migraine
Sudden Painless Vision Loss
 Central retinal artery occlusion
 Central retinal vein occlusion
 Intense vitreous hemorrhages
 Retinal detachment
 Cerebrovascular event
 Nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy
 Giant cell arteritis (arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy)
 Toxic amblyopia (methyl alcohol, quinine, lead)
Sudden Painful Vision Loss
 Angle-closure glaucoma
 Anterior uveitis
 Keratitis
 Optic neuritis (papillitis, retrobulbar neuritis)
Slowly Developing Vision Loss
 Refractive errors: Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism
 Corneal changes: Keratitis (corneal ulcers, leukoma formation),
 Drug intoxications (Chloroquine, Amiodarone, Indomethacin), Corneal degenerations
 Lens changes: Cataract development
 Glaucoma: In primary open-angle (chronic) glaucoma, vision loss occurs over the years.
 Uveitis
 Tumors (primary or metastatic)
 Retinal involvement: Vascular diseases, (diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy) retinal degenerations (senile macular degeneration)
 Optic nerve changes
Bilateral Sudden Vision Loss
 Optic neuritis
 Toxic amblyopia: Especially methyl alcohol intoxication
 Head trauma
 Uremic amaurosis
 Hysteria
 Simulation
 Malignant
 Ophthalmic migraine: It starts unilaterally first, followed by bilateral pain and flashes of light, as well as decreased vision. A history of recurrent seizures is helpful in diagnosis.