Transient monocular visual loss.

Transient monocular visual loss may be caused by a variety of ophthalmic and systemic conditions. Management depends on identifying the cause. Embolic occlusions of arteries supplying the eye are a most important cause. Such emboli often arise from the heart, aorta, and internal carotid arteries. The most common embolic substances are white platelet-fibrin and red erythrocyte-fibrin thrombi, cholesterol crystals, and calcific particles. Retinal vasoconstriction is another important cause of transient monocular visual loss. The conditions that cause anterior ischemic optic neuropathy may occasionally cause transient visual loss. Transient monocular visual loss may also be related to conditions that cause papilledema and some conditions intrinsic to the eye, such as optic disk drusen and colobomas.