FLEETING BLINDNESS
It’s a sign before your eyes. It’s fleeting blindness. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. The technical term is amaurosis fugax, meaning a darkening or dimming condition which is fleeting. In our world, amaurosis fugax refers to temporary and fleeting blindness in one eye, and its causes are many.
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At
times, tiny floating blood clots or “emboli” can find their way
into the vessels that supply the eye.
Such occlusions can temporarily cause blindness before they and the blindness resolve, almost as quickly as they
occur. Inflammation of arteries can
cause fleeting blindness too
. Though temporary,
this blindness may be a warning sign that more serious disease, like stroke is
in the offing and so
prompt medical work-up is indicated.
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Temporary blindness can also be a tip-off for developing
disease in other blood vessels, including those supplying the muscles of the
heart itself. So it is that
investigation of temporary blindness can lead to discovery and prevention of
impending heart attack. There are yet
other causes of temporary blindness in one eye. These include multiple sclerosis, migraine
syndromes, and high blood pressure.
Obviously, the causes of one-eyed, temporary blindness are many and the implications vary. But because the aftermath can be severe, people who notice that the vision temporarily goes out in one eye should get prompt medical help. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, for CBS News.
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E-Mail
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Dr. Steve Davis
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210/614-3355
