Amaurosis Fugax is a strange sounding name for a temporary loss of vision in one eye. The vision loss is sudden and usually recovers over a period of minutes. It is painless and not associated with any other symptoms.
Causes of Temporary Blindness in One Eye
Temporary blindness occurs because the blood supply to the eye is reduced or temporarily blocked. It is a transient ischemic attack of the eye, or TIA.
Common risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Temporary Blindness Linked to Silent Strokes
Recent studies have shown that 25% of people who experience Amaurosis Fugax have also had a silent stroke.
Even more alarming is that about 15% of people who experience a TIA will go on to have a stroke affecting the brain within the next three months, having the potential to cause paralysis or death. Fortunately with treatment, many of these strokes can be avoided.
Sudden Blindness is an Emergency!
The most important thing to remember is that sudden blindness is always an eye emergency! Therefore, make an appointment with your eye doctor if you ever experience Amaurosis Fugax.
I’ve been having a hard time seeing out of one of my eyes, and I’m not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that there are a few things that could be causing this! I should definitely talk to a professional to see if they can help me out with it.
I agree that having one eye go blind for a while would be an emergency. I could see how that would be a sign of a much bigger issue, as well as give you problems with your vision. I should make sure I see an eye doctor right away if I ever have a problem seeing out of one of my eyes.
I experienced this very thing today. At work just prior to leaving, I had a gradual loss of vision in one eye. It was the scariest feeling, knowing that I am truly not able to see and wondering what was coming next. In about 5 minutes my sight started to return. I went to the ER where I was cleared to go home after several tests and I am going to follow up with a neurologist. I was told to take 81 milligrams of aspirin until I meet with the doc.
Any updates?
Any updates .. I had this happen to
Me the other day
I had this happen to me too. I had sudden vision loss in my left eye with bright lights first then it went black except for the top half of my line of sight. It only lasted a few seconds but it was very scary. I had a complete eye exam the next day and they said my eyes are fine. I have to go for a carotid artery test on Monday.
I’m really scared 😨
Anyone else experienced this issue and what was your resolution.
It happened to me 5 years ago. Do not panic. I was told its unknown why happens. But I did some research on my own and I found out they could be silent stroke mini stroke.comes back in less than 5 minutes there’s nothing to worry about. Otherwise it’s dangerous. Also stop drinking anything including coffee that constrict the blood supply to the eye
Happened to me also. I lost sight in my left eye. I could see out of the upper half. Cleared up within 15 minutes. Had an MRI done and it showed nothing. But… I had Covid three weeks before, for some reason I keep thinking this was a side effect.
This started happening to me after I had COVID too. I slowly start to lose vision in my left eye, then it’s full on blindness, then it slowly returns. Lasts about 3 min. I got retina and optic nerve scans, Carotid ultrasound and a CT angio of my head and neck, all came back clean. No one can figure it out! 🙁
I have had the same, but it started before I had COVID. It has happened numerous times over the past few years. Many ER visits, carotid scans, CT’s, eye exams, brain angiogram. Everything was clear. The last doctor told me that it could be a blood vessel that gets kinked when I turn my head to the left. They really have no idea what is causing it, but after all tests, I am told that stroke risk is low (no high blood pressure). I would love to have an answer.
I was driving during the day time. I have blue eyes. So therefore light sensitivity is very much a thing. But I was driving and then next thing I know it’s like a curtain was lowering over my left eye it wasn’t completely darkness though. It was like having my eye open but holding a paper towel over it light was still visible but nothing else. Basically a bright blur. Then within 3 minutes my sight was completely back to normal anyone else had this problem?
You described exactly how I experience it except it usually happens to me at night. Or possibly I only notice it then? It’s very dramatic because I can be facing a window with outside lighting and my right eye (with the left eye closed) sees the lit up window just fine but my left eye (with the right eye closed) doesn’t see the window at all. If both eyes are open, it’s exactly the way you described it, the window isn’t completely gone but it’s it isn’t bright like it should be. It’s like I’m looking through a veil. It scares me because I know what I should be seeing!!
I’m 65 years old and this started happening in my teens. There’s no obvious rhyme or reason for when it occurs and it can be several years between episodes or it can happen several nights in a row for a while. No one has ever given me an answer yet – actually no one seems to know what I’m talking about, eye doctors including. When I do talk about it to a doctor their face doesn’t register that they have any idea what I’m talking about and that I may as well be describing my purple striped green cat. After looking at me blankly for a moment they just move on as though I hadn’t said a word!
Did anyone else notice that in each case mentioned it was the LEFT eye?
The same just happened to me – also with my left eye. I was watching TV at night and suddenly it was blurry. When I closed my right eye half the TV screen disappeared entirely (total blackness). My eye doctor did 2 field tests and immediately sent me to the ER for scans which thankfully were all negative. Follow up next week- scary stuff!
Yes left eye and same attitude with Doctors.
Happened to me last night driving but it was my right eye. Top half could see some light but lower half was black. Lasted about 3 minutes then fine, I had never heard of this before, I’m glad I found this site.
I just had this happen to me last night about 3 or 4 in the morning after suddenly waking up. It scared me but it only lasted for about 30 seconds. I’m going to see my doctor tomorrow and will take aspirin tonight.
I’ve had this happen to me four times now since July, post Covid and left eye. One time it was both. It was raining all four times.
I had same vision loss in left eye that lasted several minutes. This also happened 20 days post co-vid booster shot. In 2021 I lost most of my hearing in left ear for several months. This occurred 3 weeks after co-vid shot. Doctor said vision loss was a TIS.