Bilateral loss of vision in bright light.
We describe four patients with episodic bilateral vision impairment related exclusively to light exposure. Each had angiographically documented bilateral high-grade stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid arteries. This phenomenon appears to be related to bilateral simultaneous retinal ischemia delaying regeneration of visual pigments in the pigment epithelial layer. It must be distinguished from bilateral occipital lobe ischemia caused by vertebrobasilar system disease.
Wiebers
D O
DO
Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905.
Swanson
J W
JW
Cascino
T L
TL
Whisnant
J P
JP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002342:Carotid Artery, External; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D004691:Endarterectomy; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D008029:Lighting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012171:Retinal Vessels; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity
D001241:Aspirin