Transient Visual Loss Associated with the Factor V Leiden Mutation

Transient visual loss may be a manifestation of reduced ophthalamic or cortical perfusion or related to migraine or migraine equivalent phenomenon. Although transient and permanent loss of vision has been described in several hypercoagulable states, transient visual loss has not been described in patients with the Factor V Leiden mutation. In this report, we describe two patients this hypercoagulability state that presented to the emergency department with transient visual disturbance. Although headache was also part of the presenting symptoms, the visual disturbance did not consistently precede the headache in the classical migraine aura pattern. Several reports have demonstrated an increased incidence of hypercoagulable states in migraine with aura suffers. It may be that patients with hypercoagulability states have ischemic events that are misclassified as migraine with aura.