Amaurosis fugax and stenosis of the ophthalmic artery--a case report.

Amaurosis fugax has many causes. Its most common cause is transient hypoperfusion of the eye, caused by thromboemboli from atherosclerotic carotid arteries. Thromboembolism from carotid arteries is a risk factor for cerebral infarction, and preventive endarterectomy could be performed. This report describes a patient with a rare ophthalmic artery stenosis, which was the probable origin of thromboemboli. This finding prevented surgical intervention.