visual fields lec 3: vf defects, where is the pathology? Flashcards
list how you will instruct your patient when setting them up on the visual fields machine
- this test will test all the area you can see with each eye
- i want you to always look straight ahead at the fixation light in the centre (show them)
- other lights will now flash in different places. overtime you see a light press your button
- you will not see all the lights (px might panic)
- the most important thing to remember is to always keep watching the fixation light in the centre (don’t look away)
list the three ways that you can increase accuracy with your patient
- ensure they are comfortable
- neck/head position
- coat on or off - explain how long it will take
- xx no. of minutes
- let them know how far along they are - patient can pause the test on a humphrey
what is a visual field defect defined as
a departure from (normal position) the topography of the hill of vision from normal limits
what are the two reasons that it is important to accurately describe the type of visual field defect
- helps to determine the type of pathology it can be
2. helps to monitor the condition
what is the name for a localised defect (area of vision loss)
scotoma
what is a generalised reduction in the height of the hill of vision defined as
a depression or diffuse visual field loss
what is the contraction of the visual field
when you lose the visual field from the outside going to the inside
what are the 2 types of scotomas and describe them
- absolute: can see absolutely nothing (in that region)
2. relative: not normal, but can see something
what are the two types of margins of a scotoma and describe them
- steep: from normal to nothing
2. sloping: can see normal, then gradually less
what type of hemianopia is a altitudinal hemianopia
superior or inferior hemianopia
what is macula sparing
when you can still see the visual field corresponding to the macula (central vision)
what is macula splitting
the macula is split into half (half is affected and half is not, so you can see half of your central vision and not the other half through the eye affected)
what is quadtranopia
a quadrant of the visual field is affected
list the 4 types of central visual field loss and describe them
- central scotoma: affects fovea fixation point
- pericentral scotoma: surrounds fovea but does cover it
- paracentral scotoma: adjacent to the fixation point
- centrocecal scotoma: extends from fixation point to blind spot
what is meant by baring of the blind spot
the visual field reveals the blind spot
what is meant by nasal step
a superior nasal visual field defect which will not cross the horizontal midline, this is classic of glaucoma
which condition is a nasal step classic in
glaucoma
what is a arcuate scotoma
a scotoma with an arc shape
what is a ring scotoma
looks like a ring or contraction of the visual field
describe a homonymous hemianopia
half of the visual field is affected on the same side or each eye
what is a partial homonymous hemianopia
when the half of the visual field defect doesn’t go up to the midline
what is a complete homonymous hemianopia
when the half of the visual field defect does go up to the midline
what are the three types of homonymous hemianopia
- partial
- complete
- with macula sparing
what is a bitemporal hemianopia
when the temporal half of visual field of each eye is affected
what is another name for a hemianopia on the opposite sides of visual field of each eye
heteromonous hemianopia
what is a binasal hemianopia
when the nasal half of visual field of each eye is affected
what is a congruous defect
when the visual defect is the same shape and size as the other eyes, i.e. there is symmetry
what is the name of a defect which is asymmetrical to the other eye’s vf defect i.e. asymmetrical to one another
incongruous
what knowledge will enable you to localise the visual field defect
the knowledge of the arrangement of the nerve fibres in the visual pathway
what does every point on the retina correspond to
a certain direction in the visual field
what is the retinal image in relation to the visual field
retinal image is upside down and back to front
where in the retinal image is a superior temporal visual field
inferior nasal