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Alternating amaurosis fugax and temporal arteritis
1Department of Neurology, Hartford Hospital, and University of Connecticut Health Center, 06102, USA.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Alternating amaurosis fugax, a transient vision loss, in elderly patients may indicate temporal arteritis. A temporal artery biopsy is crucial for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Amaurosis fugax (AF) is a transient monocular vision loss.
- Alternating AF, affecting both eyes sequentially, is rare.
- Early diagnosis of underlying conditions is critical.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old male presented with recurrent, transient, alternating episodes of vision loss over several days.
- The patient's symptoms were intermittent and affected each eye separately.
Findings:
- Temporal artery biopsy revealed giant cell arteritis (GCA), a form of vasculitis.
- The biopsy confirmed inflammation and damage to the temporal artery.
Implications:
- Alternating AF in the elderly is a significant indicator of temporal arteritis.
- Prompt diagnosis via temporal artery biopsy is essential to prevent permanent vision loss.
- This case highlights the diagnostic importance of AF patterns in GCA.