blindness (rapid onset bilateral loss)
Last reviewed 07/2021
Possible causes of rapid onset blindness includes:
- bilateral occipital lobe ischaemia or infarction
- bilateral occipital lobe trauma
- severe bilateral papilloedema
- rapidly progressive chiasmal compression
- bilateral optic nerve damage, e.g. methyl alcohol poisoning
- hysteria
Sudden loss of vision is an ophthalmological emergency and requires immediate referral to the eye emergency department.