Unilateral sudden complete loss of vision (Amaurosis fugax) is due to lesion in –
Now, the correct answer is probably related to the middle cerebral artery, but wait, no. Wait, the retinal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery, which comes from the internal carotid artery. So if there's an embolus from the carotid artery, it could block the retinal artery. But the question is about the lesion location. So the lesion would be in the internal carotid artery or the ophthalmic artery. Wait, but the options aren't provided here. The user mentioned the correct answer is C, but without the options, I need to infer based on standard MCQs. Typically, in such cases, the answer is the internal carotid artery. Let me check standard references.
In the options, if one of them is the internal carotid artery, that's the correct answer. The other options might be other arteries like the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, or posterior cerebral artery. The middle cerebral artery supplies the lateral parts of the brain, not the retina. The anterior cerebral artery supplies the medial parts. The posterior cerebral artery is part of the vertebrobasilar system and supplies the occipital lobe. So the correct answer would be the internal carotid artery, as it's the source for the ophthalmic artery.
For the wrong options: Option A might be anterior cerebral artery, which doesn't supply the retina. Option B could be middle cerebral artery, which also doesn't supply the retina. Option D might be posterior cerebral artery, which is part of the posterior circulation. The key point is that amaurosis fugax is usually due to embolism in the retinal artery, which branches from the ophthalmic artery, itself a branch of the internal carotid artery. So the lesion is in the internal carotid artery, leading to embolism. The clinical pearl is that amaurosis fugax is a warning sign of stroke and requires urgent evaluation for carotid artery disease.
**Core Concept**
Amaurosis fugax refers to transient monocular blindness caused by temporary occlusion of the retinal artery, typically by an embolus. The ophthalmic artery (a branch of the **internal carotid artery**) is the primary source of retinal blood supply, making carotid artery pathology the most common underlying cause.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Sudden unilateral vision loss due to amaurosis fugax occurs when an embolus from the **internal carotid artery** lodges in the retinal artery. The ophthalmic artery arises from the internal carotid artery, and emboli from atherosclerotic plaques or cardiac sources can travel here. This mechanism is distinct from central retinal artery occlusion (permanent), but both share the same vascular supply. The transient nature suggests partial or temporary occlusion, resolving before permanent damage occurs.
**Why Each Wrong