Less common causes of acute loss of vision include Anterior uveitis (a common disorder, but one that usually causes eye pain severe enough to trigger evaluation before vision is lost) Aggressive retinitis Certain drugs (eg, methanol, salicylates, ergot alkaloids, quinine) Table Evaluation of Acute Vision Loss History History of present illness should describe loss of vision in terms of onset, duration, progression, and location (whether it is monocular or binocular and whether it involves the entire visual field or a specific part and which part).