title: [Managing unexplained visual loss--a "quick guide"].
abstract: Optic neuritis and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) present with acute visual loss. AION shows a swollen optic disc, in optic neuritis it may be swollen in one third of the patients. Optic neuritis patients complain usually about pain with eye movements. A tumour causes slowly progressive visual loss, mostly painless. In all these cases a relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) may be expected. If RAPD is missing, a problem of the optic media (retinoscopy, pinhole test), macular disease (micropsy, improvement with grey filters), amblyopia or non-organic visual loss can be causative. However, it has to be considered that a homonymous visual field defect may be perceived as an unilateral visual loss. Therefore visual field testing is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department für Augenheilkunde, Universitätskliniken Tübingen. helmut.wilhelm@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018917:Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010211:Papilledema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology