Visual Field Defects

Question 1

causes of visual field defects

Answer 1

vascular disease
SOL
demyelination (MS)
trauma/surgery

Question 2

four areas that can be affected to cause a visual field defect?

Answer 2

1. optic nerve
2. optic chiasm
3. optic tracts/radiations
4. occipital cortex

Question 3

causes of optic nerve damage?

Answer 3

CVS RF
GCA
altitude defect
MS
tumours e.g. meningioma, glioma and haemangioma

Question 4

presentation of optic nerve damage

Answer 4

Progressive visual loss (unilateral)
pain on eye movement, most commonly caused by MS
painful loss of vision 1-2 weeks
Colour desaturation
Central scotoma (peripheral vision spared)
Gradual recovery over weeks-months. Optic atrophy can follow this.

Question 5

what can affect the pituitary chiasm?

Answer 5

pituitary tumours
craniopharyngioma
meningioma

Question 6

presentation of pitutiary chiasm defects?

Answer 6

bitemporal hemianopia

Question 7

what affects the optic tracts?

Answer 7

tumours
demyelination
vascular abnormalities

Question 8

presentation of optic tract damage

Answer 8

 Homonomous defect
 Macula not spared
 Quadrantanopia
 Incongruous

Question 9

what can affect the occipital cortex?

Answer 9

vascular disease (CVA)
demyelination

Question 10

presentation of damage to the occipital cortex

Answer 10

 Homonous defect
 Macular sparing- large area/ dual blood supply
 Congruous

Question 11

where is pathology is a contralateral homonymous superior quadrantinopia is present?

Answer 11

temporal lobe

Question 12

where is pathology in a contralateral homonymous inferior quadrantinopia?

Answer 12

parietal lobe

Question 13

where is pathology in a contralateral homonymous hemoanopia (macular sparing)

Answer 13

visual cortex

Question 14

where is pathology if a contralateral homonymous hemoanopia is present?

Answer 14

optic tract