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Ictal blindness and status epilepticus amauroticus
Epilepsia
|November 1, 1985
Summary
Ictal blindness, a rare seizure symptom, can cause temporary vision loss. Prompt anticonvulsant treatment can reverse this neurological event.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epileptology
- Neuro-ophthalmology
Background:
- Ictal blindness, characterized by temporary vision loss during a seizure, is infrequently documented in medical literature.
- Understanding the etiology and presentation of ictal blindness is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- This study presents five cases of ictal blindness, confirmed by simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring.
- Presentations varied from complete blindness to homonymous hemianopia.
- Causes included vascular lesions (3 cases), metastatic lesions (1 case), and idiopathic epilepsy (1 case).
Findings:
- All documented cases of ictal blindness were reversible with anticonvulsant therapy.
- The duration of blindness ranged from hours to days, with most meeting criteria for "status epilepticus amauroticus."
- The age range of affected individuals was broad, from 13 to 74 years.
Implications:
- Unexplained cortical blindness may be underrecognized as a manifestation of seizure activity.
- Increased awareness and EEG documentation are vital for diagnosing ictal blindness.
- This condition highlights the diverse neurological symptoms epilepsy can present with.