We have been opticians for three generations
in our family, and our activity is targeted on three areas, optometry,
contact lenses and optical instruments.
There are numerous problems which can cause a loss of the peripheral,
or side vision. Examples given on this page include glaucoma, cerebral
stroke (involving the visual system), stroke of the optic nerve (ischemic
optic neuropathy), and pituitary tumour.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma gradually affects the peripheral vision. Each eye is involved
separately, assuming that both eyes have glaucoma. Often the inside
(nasal) field of vision is affected first. Blind spots from glaucoma
tend to be arc-like in shape, extending from the normal blind spot.
The horizontal midline tends to be respected by blind spots from
glaucoma. Sometimes the central vision itself can be cut across
or eliminated.
Cerebral Stroke
A stroke involving the visual part of the brain or the visual pathways
through the brain can cause a loss of the field of vision. This
appears in BOTH eyes, since one side of the brain serves the opposite
field of vision for both eyes. The vertical midline tends to be
respected. The degree of involvement of either eye may not be identical,
and sometimes the central vision is spared.
Optic nerve stroke
Ischemic optic neuropathy is usually a sudden lack of blood flow
to the nerve in the eye. The visual field loss tends to cut straight
across the vision, with a loss of vision either above or below the
horizontal midline. In some cases, the visual field loss may resemble
glaucoma.
Pituitary tumour
The pituitary gland is located in a unique place in the brain:
directly below a crossing point of the optic nerves from each eye
(the optic chiasm). An enlarging tumour here classically can cause
the outside field of vision to be lost from both eyes.
Clear image
Glaucoma - severe visual
field loss. Only a small central island
of vision remains. The center of
the vision is cut through horizontally as well.
Stroke of optic nerve.
Horizontal cut through center of vision.
Glaucoma - severe visual
field loss. Only a small central island
of vision remains. The centre of
the vision is cut through horizontally as well.
Stroke of optic nerve.
Horizontal cut through centre of vision.
Left Eye
Right Eye
A stroke involving the left part of the brain, gives an asymmetrical lost of
peripheral vision.
Left Eye
Right Eye
Pituitary tumour causing loss of outside field of vision
of both eyes (asymmetrical).
French
Clear image
