Acute visual loss

Retinal detachment should be considered if there were preceding flashes or floaters, or if there is a new visual field defect in one eye.[2][3] If treated early enough, retinal tear and detachment can have a good outcome.[2]

Angle-closure glaucoma should be considered if there is painful loss of vision with a red eye, nausea or vomiting.[4] The eye pressure will be very high typically greater than 40 mmHg.[5] Emergent laser treatment to the iris may prevent blindness.[4]

Wet macular degeneration should be considered in older people with new distortion of their vision with bleeding in the macula.[6][7] Vision can often be regained with prompt eye injections with anti-VEGF agents.[6]

Giant cell arteritis should be considered in an older person with jaw claudication, temporal pain, and tiredness.[8] Placing the person on steroids might save both their vision and decrease their risk of stroke.[9] Without treatment a person can quickly go blind in both eyes.[10]

• Central retinal artery occlusion: CRAO is characterized by painless, acute vision loss in one eye.[11]
• Central retinal vein occlusion: CRVO causes sudden, painless vision loss that can be mild to severe. [12]
• Branch retinal vein occlusion: sudden painless vision loss or visual field defect are the main symptom of BRVO. [13]
• Branch retinal artery occlusion: BRAO may also cause acute painless loss of vision. [14]

It is one of the most common causes of acute or subacute decrease in vision. [15]

Blood in the anterior chamber of the eye is known as hyphema. Severe hyphema covering pupillary area can cause sudden decrease in vision.