Acute visual loss

Acute visual loss is a rapid loss of the ability to see. It is caused by many ocular conditions like retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and giant cell arteritis, etc.

Video explanation (script)^[1]

Acute visual loss
Other names	Acute vision loss
A Snellen chart, which is frequently used for visual acuity testing

Main causes

Retinal detachment

Main article: 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.^[2][3] If treated early enough, retinal tear and detachment can have a good outcome.^[2]

Glaucoma

Main article: Glaucoma

Angle-closure glaucoma should be considered if there is painful loss of vision with a red eye, nausea or vomiting.^[4] The eye pressure will be very high typically greater than 40 mmHg.^[5] Emergent laser treatment to the iris may prevent blindness.^[4]

Macular degeneration

Main article: Macular degeneration

Wet macular degeneration should be considered in older people with new distortion of their vision with bleeding in the macula.^[6][7] Vision can often be regained with prompt eye injections with anti-VEGF agents.^[6]

Giant cell arteritis

Main article: Giant-cell arteritis

Giant cell arteritis should be considered in an older person with jaw claudication, temporal pain, and tiredness.^[8] Placing the person on steroids might save both their vision and decrease their risk of stroke.^[9] Without treatment a person can quickly go blind in both eyes.^[10]

Vascular occlusions

• Central retinal artery occlusion: CRAO is characterized by painless, acute vision loss in one eye.^[11]
• Central retinal vein occlusion: CRVO causes sudden, painless vision loss that can be mild to severe. ^[12]
• Branch retinal vein occlusion: sudden painless vision loss or visual field defect are the main symptom of BRVO. ^[13]
• Branch retinal artery occlusion: BRAO may also cause acute painless loss of vision. ^[14]

Vitreous hemorrhage

Main article: Vitreous hemorrhage

It is one of the most common causes of acute or subacute decrease in vision. ^[15]

Hyphema

Main article: Hyphema

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