postictal amaurosis

   A term used to denote avariantof * amaurosis fugax (i.e. transient blindness) which is attributable to an epileptic seizure. Postictal amaurosis can affect the visual field in whole or in part. In the majority of cases, it affects only one of the hemifields. The duration of postictal amaurosis tends to be short, of the order of seconds to minutes. However, anecdotal reports describe amaurotic states lasting for minutes to hours. Postictal amaurosis may be complicated by * visual hallucinations. Such visual hallucinations are referred to as * ophthalmopathic hallucinations.

   References

   Mauguière, F. (1999). Scope and presumed mechanisms of hallucinations in partial epileptic seizures. Epileptic Disorders, 1, 81-91.