Signs

• Visual acuity often severely reduced e.g. count fingers
• Usually non-pulsatile tender temporal arteries
• Swollen optic disc & RAPD
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  Relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD)

  A relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD) is seen on examination by shining light in one eye, then the other.

  If the left eye has an RAPD it will show little constriction of the pupil when a light is shone into that eye, but when the light is shone into the right eye, the left constricts.

  When swinging back to the left eye it paradoxically dilates, as it is not as responsive to stimulation (as the optic nerve is damaged).

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• May have flame shaped haemorrhages & cotton wool spots indicating retinal nerve fibre layer infarction

Optic disc swelling

Source: www.retinagallery.com