Abstract

CASE STUDY Family Medicine and Community Health CASE STUDY John Murtagh CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: History artery bifurcation. An embolu is often the John Murtagh A 65-year-old shopkeeper presents for evalua- first clinical evidence of carotid artery steno- Monash University, Victoria tion of a loss of vision in his left eye approxi- sis. Approximately 20% of all TIAs present as 3165, Australia mately 6 h previously. The visual loss lasted amaurosis fugax. E-mail: john.murtagh@monash. for approximately 5 min, and was followed by The differential diagnoses include the fol- edu complete recovery. He described the event as lowing, although these serious eye or vascular Funding: This research received though “a curtain came down from above and conditions are not transient, and thus have more no specific grant from any fund- blocked out the light.” He had no other symp- prolonged or even permanent loss of vision: ing agency in the public, com- toms at the time of the vision loss. • Retinal detachment mercial, or not-for-profit sectors. A history of hypertension and type 2 dia- • Retinal hemorrhage betes mellitus was elicited. His current medi- • Retinal vein thrombosis cations include metformin (850 mg qd) and • Acute glaucoma perindopril (10 mg qd). He smokes 15 ciga- • Temporal arteritis rettes a day,