Temporary blindness is a condition that affects one or both eyes, and this condition is not considered a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of other disorders, and the duration of temporary blindness ranges from a few minutes to half an hour, and in this article we will talk in detail about its causes, symptoms and how to treat it.

Causes of temporary blindness

Temporary blindness occurs for a variety of reasons, which are often related to a lack of blood flow to the eyes. Here are some of these reasons:

1. Ocular migraine

Ocular migraine, sometimes called retinal migraine, is a type of headache that causes vision problems, and symptoms of this headache include temporary blindness and blind spots, and this type often affects one eye, and is caused by blood vessel spasms or problems with blood flow in the retina .

2. Migraine with aura

It is another type of headache that may affect vision, and it occurs when a blind spot appears in the center of the vision, zigzag lines and spots that look like camera flashes, and these symptoms last from 10 to 30 minutes.

3. Atherosclerosis

With age, fats, cholesterol and other elements turn into plaques or fatty deposits, which narrow or completely block blood vessels, especially in the carotid artery in the neck, which consists of blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the brain, and due to the dependence of blood flow With eyes on this artery, blockage of this artery may cause temporary blindness.

4. Blood clots

When blood clots form in the heart or an artery such as the carotid artery in the neck, these clots may travel and block narrowed arteries near the eyes, causing temporary blindness.

5. Low blood pressure

Low blood pressure affects the blood flow to the eyes, as a result of orthostatic hypotension, which occurs when standing after a long period of sitting or lying down. Reduced blood flow to the eyes may occur due to a sharp drop in blood pressure as a result of medications or due to severe dehydration.

6. Photokeratitis

Photo keratitis or snow blindness occurs when exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun increases, which leads to the emergence of some symptoms such as temporary blindness, pain, redness and swelling of the eyes, and vision often returns between 24 to 48 hours, so it is preferable to be careful to wear sunglasses to prevent infection corneal photoperiod;

7. Light sensitivity

Some people suffer from severe eye sensitivity, especially when exposed to intense light, which may cause temporary blindness, for example:

• Temporary blindness due to male phone or computer, as some recent scientific studies have shown that increased exposure to computer or smartphone rays in completely dark rooms, may cause blurred vision or temporary blindness.
• Sudden exposure to light when opening the curtains.
• Night blindness is a condition that causes difficulty seeing at night or in the case of low light, which affects a person’s ability to see at night, and affects some activities such as driving at night.

8. Head injuries

Some head injuries may lead to temporary partial or total blindness, and other symptoms that affect vision such as difficulty moving the eyes, dizziness, blurred vision and double vision, so it is necessary to consult a doctor quickly when noticing the emergence of any of these symptoms after head injuries.

9. Optic neuritis

Optic neuritis may cause vision loss in one eye, reduced color vision or loss of field of vision.

Temporary blindness symptoms

Temporary blind people describe their vision as a black shadow, similar to the fall of a curtain in front of the eye, and the duration of temporary blindness ranges from a few minutes to half an hour until the vision returns again, and sometimes sufferers may feel headache and neck pain.

Diagnosis of temporary blindness

There are a number of x-rays and medical examinations requested by the specialist doctor, which help determine the cause of temporary blindness, and these procedures include the following:

• Fundoscopy, a procedure that allows examining the retina and diagnosing whether there are blood clots in it.
• Examination of the carotid artery through ultrasound or CT scan, to diagnose the extent of atherosclerosis or not.
• CT scan or MRI of the brain, which reveals the extent to which parts of the brain are affected by the lack of blood flow.

Temporary blindness treatment

We mentioned at the beginning of the article that this blindness is not considered a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of some disorders, or some behaviors such as standing suddenly after a long period of sitting, so treatment depends on diagnosing the cause of temporary blindness, and here are some examples of how the treatment will be prescribed by the doctor By situation:

• Take anticoagulant medications such as aspirin and anticoagulants, which prevent blood clots from forming.
• Installing a stent in the carotid artery, by placing a small metal tube, to restore blood flow to this artery after it has been clogged with fatty deposits.
• Carotid endarterectomy, a surgical procedure in which the carotid artery is opened to remove fatty deposits that are blocking blood flow to it.
• Be careful to control blood sugar, because its high causes atherosclerosis, while making sure to exercise and follow a healthy diet, by reducing the intake of fatty foods.
• Be careful to control the blood pressure, by constantly measuring pressure, and taking blood pressure medications.
• Follow up with a specialist to reduce cholesterol in the blood.
• Avoid standing up suddenly, after lying down and sitting for a long time.
• Avoid using smartphones or computer screens in a completely dark room, and wear prescription glasses to combat blue light.
• Make sure to use sunglasses when exposed to the sun.
• Quit smoking, which is one of the main factors in developing atherosclerosis.

After identifying the causes of temporary blindness, it is necessary to consult a doctor quickly in the event of a temporary loss of vision, to diagnose the cause behind this, and to prevent it from recurring in the future.