The field of view is the space that the human eye can capture in a stationary state. Violation of the field of vision – a symptom that cannot be ignored, because it can indicate both eye disorders and the presence of brain pathologies. At the same time, visual field disturbance can be local (blocking of visibility in certain parts of the visual field) and global (when the picture that the eye perceives becomes generally narrower). estet-portal.com will talk about the possible causes of such problems in this article.
Visual field impairment: concentric and local narrowing
Violation of the visual field, manifested in the narrowing of its boundaries, is called concentric. If the field of view narrows in a certain area, while the other boundaries remain unchanged, there is a narrowing of a local nature.
Visual field impairment can vary from reduced visibility to more pronounced narrowing, making it appear as if the person is looking through a pipe.
Concentric narrowing of the field of vision may occur as a result of disorders of the nervous system (neurasthenia, neurosis, etc.), and may be due to damage to the organs of vision (optic nerve atrophy, glaucoma, etc.).
Visual field disorders can occur in one or both eyes, and can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Scotoma – focal visual field impairment
Visual field impairment that occurs in a limited area, the boundaries of which do not coincide with the peripheral boundaries of the visual field, is called a scotoma. Simply put, scotomas – spots that occur in any part of the field of view.
Scotoma shapes can be different, and visual field impairment can be relative (when there is a decrease in image clarity within the scotoma) or absolute (complete absence of an image in a certain part of the visual field). Also, scotomas come in color – when a person cannot see or distinguish certain colors, and flickering (arise as a result of stress, physical and mental stress, circulatory disorders in the optic nerve, some brain pathologies).
Main causes and treatment of visual field disorders
Visual field impairment can have a variety of causes. For example, scotomas or narrowing of the visual field (including tunnel vision) can be caused by:
- cataract;
- glaucoma;
- retinitis;
- eye injuries;
- trauma to the optic nerve;
- retinitis;
- dystrophic processes;
- retinal detachment;
- optic nerve atrophy;
- brain tumors;
- a sharp drop in blood pressure;
- nitrogen poisoning;
- oxygen starvation;
- blood loss;
- hallucinogens;
- neurological diseases;
- atherosclerosis;
- hypertension;
- diabetes;
- pigmentary retinal degeneration.
Because the disturbance of the field of vision – a symptom, in order to get rid of it, it is necessary to eliminate the disease or pathology that caused the visual field defect. Therefore, if there is even a slight narrowing of the visual field or loss of parts of the visual field, it is necessary to contact an ophthalmologist and a neurologist. Treatment depends on the cause of visual impairment and can range from medical therapy to surgery. Ignore any disturbances in the visual field cannot be, otherwise complete loss of vision may occur (depending on the cause that prompted the violation of the visual field).
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