Acute visual loss

HISTORY

In the history of acute visual loss following points must be asked in history.

• Uniocular/binocular
• Transiant/persistant
• Progression of visual loss
• Associated with pain/no pain
• Associated with systemic problems
• Associated with systemic conditions

 EXAMINATION

• Visual acuity
• Visual field
• Pupillary reaction
• Tonometry
• Ophthalmoscopy
• Penlight examination

CAUSES OF ACUTE VISUAL LOSS

(1) Media opacities

1. Corneal edema
2. Hyphema
3. Cataract
4. Vitreous haemorrhage

(2)Retinal diseases

1. Retinal detachment
2. Central retinal artery occlusion
3. Central retinal vein occlusion
4. Macular diseases

(3)Optic nerve diseases

1. Optic neuritis
2. Papilloedema
3. Ischemic optic neuropathy
4. Traumatic optic neuropathy
5. Visual pathways disorders

Retinal detachment

Symtoms

• Flashes
• black curtain
• decreased vision

Signs

• VA decreased
• RAPD
• red reflex altered
• retina elevated and folded