One day you notice that suddenly the vision in one eye is rapidly clouding over. It goes completely grey, making it impossible to see any detail. This lasts for a few minutes then everything goes back to normal.
Should you be concerned?
You may have just experienced a TIA (“Transient Ischemic Attack”) and it could mean you’re at risk of a stroke. A TIA means that the blood flow to your eye has been compromised. Those who are overweight, have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, smoke, or are over 65 years of age are at higher risk of a stroke. Vision loss that does not return after a few minutes, especially if accompanied by weakness, numbness or tingling on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or dizziness/balance problems should be considered a medical emergency (call 911).
There are many causes of temporary loss or blurring of vision. It’s important to see your MVO optometrist if you have experienced any sudden loss or change in vision. Refer to our emergency eye care information page to urgently access eye care services, or call 403-286-0888 (Mountain View Optometry in Calgary), 403-851-2020 (Mountain View Optometry in Cochrane). If your eye doctor feels you have experienced a TIA you will be referred to your family doctor for testing.
