How likely is transient vision loss from retinal migraine or TIA?

[WilliamGM]

I’ve been having these episodes where my vision goes completely gray for a few seconds, like a curtain falling, and then it just comes back. My doctor mentioned it could be a retinal migraine, but I’m worried it might be something more serious like a TIA. Has anyone else experienced this kind of transient vision loss and had it checked out by a neurologist?

[Paisley.T]

I’ve had the same curtain-like gray-out a couple of times. It lasts only a few seconds, then it’s back. I ended up seeing a neurologist after one episode; MRI and carotid ultrasound were normal, and they labeled it retinal migraine after ruling out TIA. It was scary, but the doctors stayed calm and that helped.

[Jack_B]

I remember this happening once during a run. I sat down and waited it out, then felt a little woozy for a minute after. The neurologist did a basic workup, and they said not every transient vision loss is a TIA, but to treat it seriously and come back if it repeats or if I get weakness or speech trouble.

[Kenneth_A]

Did your doctor check for TIAs with imaging or a vascular study?

[EllaB]

Sometimes I worry about whether this is really something urgent or just my lighting and fatigue playing tricks. I started keeping a rough log: time, how long it lasts, if there was a headache, what I drank or ate. It’s not perfect, but it helped me feel a bit more in control when I talk to the doctor.