Visual Field Defect

Question 1

From proximal to distal, what are the components of the visual tract which can cause visual field defects?

Answer 1

Optic nerve

Optic chiasm

Optic tract

Optic radiations

Occipital cortex

Question 2

What visual field defects do optic nerve lesions cause?

Answer 2

Loss of vision in ipsilateral eye

Question 3

Name 4 potential causes of complete vision in one eye.

Answer 3

Anything affecting optic nerve:

Ischaemic optic neuropathy (GCA, atherosclerosis)

Optic neuritis

Glaucoma

Optic nerve tumours

Question 4

How does optic neuritis present?

Answer 4

Progressive unilateral visual loss

Pain behind eye

Colour disturbance

Central scotoma

Question 5

What visual field defects do optic chiasm lesions cause?

Answer 5

Bitemporal hemianopia

Question 6

Name 2 causes of bitemporal hemianopia and who they are likely to affect

Answer 6

Pituitary adenoma (adults)

Craniopharyngioma (children)

Question 7

What visual field defects do optic tract lesions cause?

Answer 7

Homonomous hemianopia (bilateral loss of left/right half of visual field)

Question 8

What visual field defect would a left optic tract lesion cause?

Answer 8

Right homonomous hemianopia (loss of both right halves of visual field)

Question 9

What visual field defect do optic radiation lesions cause?

Answer 9

Quadrantanopia

Question 10

What visual field defects do occipital cortex lesions cause?

Answer 10

Homonomous hemianopia (bilateral loss of left/right half of visual field) with macular sparing

Question 11

Left homonomous hemianopia:

1. with central vision
2. without central vision

is caused by ______.

Answer 11

1. Right occipital cortex lesion

2. Right optic tract lesion