Ocular and Systemic Manifestation of Amaurosis Fugax: Six-Year Observational Study

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of ocular and systemic disease causing amaurosis fugax and to discuss the ocular and systemic manifestation of each disease. METHODS: Consecutive patients who had amaurosis fugax were retrospectively studied from 2007 to 2013. Carotid evaluation using Doppler was performed in all patients. Ocular and medical histories were taken and bilateral ophthalmic evaluation performed. RESULTS: This study included 35 patients. The mean age of patients was 63 years and 27 patients were male; 29 unilateral and 6 bilateral eyes were involved. Associated systemic disease included hypertension (54.3%) and diabetes mellitus (34.2%). The most frequent cause of amaurosis fugax was retinal artery occlusion (28.6%) followed by ocular ischemic syndrome (22.9%), other vascular diseases (11.4%), and retinal vein occlusion (5.7%). The remaining 31.4% patients with amaurosis fugax had no vascular disease. Clinically significant stenosis of the internal carotid artery was observed in 16 patients (45.7%) and 6 of these patients (37.5%) had retinal artery occlusion disease. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and clinical manifestation of amaurosis fugax is very complex. Patients with transient visual disturbance are at risk for retinal artery occlusion, ocular ischemic syndrome and other diseases which cause visual loss. Therefore, careful history taking and urgent systemic and ophthalmic evaluations should be performed.