Abstract
Monocular transient ischemic attacks, particularly those caused by emboli, must always be regarded as symptoms of a potentially crippling, sometimes life-threatening cerebrovascular or cardiac disease. By careful questioning of the patient, one can often distinguish embolic attacks from attacks produced by hypotension or other disease (e.g., migraine). This is a matter of obvious practical significance in preventing permanent blindness and serious cerebral complications of the underlying cardiovascular disease.