Surgical therapies for transient monocular visual loss

Surgical therapies for transient monocular visual loss are used for lesions of the accessible, extracranial cerebral arteries. Carotid bifurcation stenosis is the most frequent surgically correctable lesion leading to transient monocular vision loss and is best treated by carotid artery endarterectomy. Occlusion of the internal carotid artery may be a cause of transient monocular visual loss and can be treated effectively with external carotid endarterectomy and ligation of the internal carotid artery. Other infrequent surgically correctable causes of transient monocular visual loss include proximal common carotid artery, innominate artery, and aortic arch atherosclerosis and carotid fibromuscular dysplasia. Surgical therapy for transient monocular visual loss is safe and effective in properly selected patients if performed with acceptably low rates of surgical morbidity and mortality.