Sudden Left Eye Vision Loss

[mohammedyousuf]

Hi, This question is for my friend who is 49 years old, Few days back when he was travelling he experienced unbearable half headache (left side) followed by vomiting. After couple of hours exhausted he took a nap (Sleep for sometime). When he got up he has lost complete vision from his left eye. He visited all popular eye specialist in  the city (bangalore, india), Doctors didnt find anything after recommending many tests. Not sure what happened to his eye. Did someone experienced the same or heard something similar. Request you to please help with your advice.

[JohnHaganMD]

First I would ask do you mean he still can't see out of the eye? If that IS THE CASE  a cause must be found. If they have looked in the eye and the inside looks normal then the problem is behind the eye and he may need special tests like MRI,  angiograms, etc.

If the vision has come back  he may have had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) and he needs to see a internist or cardiologist and will need full work up when involves examining heart, blood vessels, blood, brain.

The best thing this could be if his vision is back to normal is a "migraine with aura"

Keep looking for answers

[mohammedyousuf]

Thank you very much John for the reply, Yes 99% he still cant see from the left eye (but when he closes his right eye he can make out little bit vision from the left eye, which gives a hope of 1% its not completely dead). From the front the eye looks very normal, he can blink and there is no problem (running eye, or red eye or anything such). So are you recommending MRI and Angiogram ?, thank in advance.

[JohnHaganMD]

None of the "popular" ophthalmologists in town should have given up on this. A 49 year old man should not suddenly loose 99% of his vision without a firm diagnosis and a plan to try and help and the most important thing do what's necessary to keep the other eye from having the same catastrophic loss. You live in a big city with a lot of sophisticated care. He needs to see a "NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGIST" perhaps one of the ophthalmologists he's seen can refer him or medical school dept of ophthalmology usually have on staff. He needs to move quickly to get in to see an Eye MD with this expertise. In the mean time perhaps start working on seeing a neurologist also.

[mohammedyousuf]

Will immediately find a NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGIST and Neurologist. Thank you very much. Will update back on this page of the findings. Might be helpful to others.

[JohnHaganMD]

Please tell your friend he only has one good eye left. Protect it from injury. Live a healthy life style. Find out if anything is wrong with the good eye. Wear protective eyewear for anything with potential for injury.

[mohammedyousuf]

Sure Doctor. Thanks.

[JohnHaganMD]

Best of luck. Let us know the cause when found.