Which condition is known to potentially lead to permanent blindness in patients aged 65 and older?

Giant Cell Arteritis, also referred to as temporal arteritis, is a significant condition that can potentially lead to permanent blindness in older adults, particularly those aged 65 and older. This inflammatory disease affects the blood vessels, especially the temporal arteries, and can cause ischemic optic neuropathy when the blood flow to the optic nerve is compromised. The acute onset of visual changes or headaches, along with systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and jaw claudication, should prompt immediate medical attention.

While macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy are all common ocular conditions in this age group, they are generally associated with gradual vision loss rather than the acute vision loss that can occur with giant cell arteritis. Macular degeneration can lead to severe loss of central vision, but it does not cause sudden blindness. Cataracts can lead to cloudy vision that improves with surgical intervention. Diabetic retinopathy can cause progressive vision loss, but again, this occurs more gradually rather than acutely.

Therefore, the acute nature and potential for rapid, irreversible visual loss in giant cell arteritis make it a particularly concerning condition in older patients, highlighting the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment to preserve vision.