The Eyes Have It

Acute Persistent Visual Loss: Acute Maculopathy

Acute maculopathy

What causes it?
Bleeding, inflammation, a choroidal tumor, or contusion from a direct blow to the eye.

Listen for a report of distorted as well as blurred vision.

Don't expect to see a fundus abnormality—it may be limited to the tiny foveal region.

What to do?
Refer within 24 hours. Although most acute maculopathies cannot be treated immediately, anti-microbials must be instituted promptly for a suspected infectious retinitis.

To learn more, go to Principal Ophthalmic Conditions: age-related macular degeneration.

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Originally created by Jonathan Trobe, M.D., University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
© 2009 The Regents of the University of Michigan

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