Clinical significance of transient visual phenomena in the elderly

To evaluate the significance of transient visual phenomena in the elderly patient, a retrospective study of 43 patients over 40 years of age (mean, 58) presenting between 1971 and 1982 was conducted. Historical, clinical and diagnostic features were collated and analyzed by computer. The study revealed that 31 patients were diagnosed as migraine and 12 as vertebrobasilar insufficiency based on features identified in this review. Follow-up was obtained in 90% of the patients with a mean follow-up of 2.4 years. In general, prognosis proved to be excellent, with two deaths of cardiac origin and an 81% incidence of remission or symptomatic improvement of the visual events. No retinal or cerebral strokes were observed and TIAs occurred in only 9% of the population. This study suggests that transient visual phenomena in the elderly are benign.