Visual Field Defects

The visual field refers to a person’s scope of vision while the eyes are focused on a central point. The nerves that carry visual signals follow a complex pathway from the back of the eye to the brain’s visual processing center, called the occipital lobe.

When any part of this pathway is damaged because of a disease or an injury, part of the visual field may disappear. This is called a visual field defect.

Vision loss in one eye may indicate a problem in the eye, whereas the same visual field defect in both eyes may signal a problem in the brain.

Signs that you may have a visual field defect include:

Bumping into things
Knocking over objects when reaching
Having difficulty reading
Getting into a car accident

There are many different diseases or traumatic injuries that can cause visual field defects. Some examples include:

Tumors (such as pituitary adenomas and optic gliomas)
Multiple sclerosis
Pituitary gland disorders
Aneurysms
Stroke
Temporal arteritis
Macular degeneration
Glaucoma
Retinal detachment
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetes
High blood pressure

Treatment for a visual field defect depends on the cause of the defect. If you are experiencing vision loss due to a neurological problem, we can help. Please contact JKC Clinic through phone or online for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations tailored to your specific situation.