Neuro-Opthalmology
What is it?
Neuro-ophthalmologists manage the condition which bridges the gap between the brain and eye.
This includes pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension), optic nerve diseases, and conditions that affect eye movements causing double vision.
Stroke affecting the vision
When a stroke affects the vision one side of the visual field may be lost in both eyes.
The Symptoms
Patients often report having lost vision from one eye. The brain tends to fill in the missing information so some patients aren't aware they have lost vision until it is formally tested.
Reading can be a challenge for patients with homonymous hemianopia. It can be difficult to find the next line, or even the next word. Holding a ruler under the line you are reading can help. Some people prefer rotating the page by 90 degrees and reading from top to bottom. A useful free website also offers helpful information and training exercises to try to improve reading speed: www.readright.ucl.ac.uk
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Risks
Many patients in this group may find it frustrating that they can't legally drive, despite feeling their vision is normal.
MRI scan of optic nerve tumour
Ishihara plates to check colour vision
Visual field of a patient who has had a stroke
Visual field test in a patient with optic nerve compression