A stroke can cause significant changes in vision.Most of the time, a stroke survivor experiences only one or, possibly, a few of these vision changes, but not all of them. This is because different regions of the brain work together to control vision. So, depending on the size and location of a stroke, it may or may not affect various aspects of vision.
Learn more about the types of vision problems a stroke survivor may experience.
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Visual Field Cut, or Loss of Peripheral Vision
A visual field cut is a partial loss of vision. It can cause vision loss on the left or the right side, in the upper field of vision, in the lower field of vision, or in a combination of areas.
Our ability to see the world is dependent on the brain perceiving the world around us as if it were a four-wedge pie placed neatly together to make a whole pie. When a stroke causeshomonymous hemianopsia, both eyes lose the ability to see the same “slices of pie.” So, a visual field loss can result in both eyes being unable to see the left side or both eyes being unable to see the right side or both eyes being unable to see the upper right or the upper left sides.
This symmetry of vision loss that occurs as a result of a stroke can be specifically described as left homonymous hemianopsia, right homonymous hemianopsia, right upper quadrant hemianopsia, and so forth.
Homonymous hemianopsia can result when a stroke damages a region of the temporal lobe, parietal lobe, or occipital lobe. The specific location of the stroke determines exactly the area of vision loss. Damage to the right side of the brain causes loss of left-sided vision, while damage to the left side of the brain causes right-sided vision loss.
Visual Neglect or Visual Extinction
Visual neglect is somewhat different from homonymous hemianopsia. Visual neglect is a condition in which stroke survivors have a deficit in attention to and awareness of one side of the body.
This neglect of one side may be absolute (visual neglect) or it may only happen when another object in the “normal” side competes for attention (visual extinction).
Visual neglect and visual extinction more commonly occur whena stroke affects the right parietal lobe.
Double Vision or Blurred Vision
Double vision(diplopia) from a stroke weakens eye muscles in such a way that one eye cannot perfectly align with the other eye, giving the perception of two objects when there is only one.
Diplopia can be present all of the time, or it can be present only when you are looking in a certain direction, for example when you move your eyes to the left, to the right, or up or down. Often, diplopia makes your vision appear to be fuzzy or unclear, rather than distinctly double, as the two images may overlap, appearing blurred.
Loss of Vision
A stroke can cause complete vision loss in one eye and, rarely, in both eyes. Complete loss of vision of one eye usually occurs as a result of a blockage of one of the arteries supplying blood flow to the eye, the ophthalmic artery or its branch called the retinal artery.
Some stroke survivors can lose vision in both eyes after a stroke affecting both occipital lobes, a condition known as cortical blindness, which means that the stroke survivor’s eyes react to light (the pupils get smaller in response to light) as if he or she can still see. In cortical blindness, however, a stroke survivor cannot see because the brain is unable to perceive the visual message.
Visual Hallucinations
Visual hallucinations may occur after a stroke. Hallucinations are experiences or perceptions of things that are not real.
Such conditions include:
Stroke survivors who have Charles Bonnet syndrome generally are aware that the objects they see are not real.
Achromatopsia, or Loss of Color Vision
Amaurosis Fugax
Amaurosis fugax is a visual change associated with atransient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a temporary, reversible stroke.The classic symptoms of amaurosis fugax include a sense that a dark shade or black curtain is coming down vertically into the field of vision of one eye. Sometimes amaurosis fugax is described as sudden vision loss or partial vision loss.
Vision Changes Not Associated with Stroke
A Word From Verywell
One of our most important senses is the sense of vision. Vision requires a complex interaction between the eyes and the brain. A stroke can cause several changes in vision, depending on the size of thestroke, and which region of the brain is affected. Rehabilitation for vision loss is a long process that requires a great deal of patience and persistence.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Stroke Association.Visual disturbances.Genetics Home Reference.Achromatopsia.Jun B.Diagnostic considerations in patients presenting with transient vision loss.Mo Med.2016;113(1):63-7.Additional ReadingKumral E, Uluakay A, Dönmez İ.Charles Bonnet syndrome in a patient with right medial occipital lobe infarction: epileptic or deafferentation phenomenon?Neurologist. 2015;20(1):13-5Michael D, Melnick, Tadin D, Huxlin KR.Re-learning to see in cortical blindness.Neuroscientist. 2016 Apr; 22(2): 199–212. doi:10.1177/1073858415621035
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Stroke Association.Visual disturbances.Genetics Home Reference.Achromatopsia.Jun B.Diagnostic considerations in patients presenting with transient vision loss.Mo Med.2016;113(1):63-7.Additional ReadingKumral E, Uluakay A, Dönmez İ.Charles Bonnet syndrome in a patient with right medial occipital lobe infarction: epileptic or deafferentation phenomenon?Neurologist. 2015;20(1):13-5Michael D, Melnick, Tadin D, Huxlin KR.Re-learning to see in cortical blindness.Neuroscientist. 2016 Apr; 22(2): 199–212. doi:10.1177/1073858415621035
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Stroke Association.Visual disturbances.Genetics Home Reference.Achromatopsia.Jun B.Diagnostic considerations in patients presenting with transient vision loss.Mo Med.2016;113(1):63-7.
American Stroke Association.Visual disturbances.
Genetics Home Reference.Achromatopsia.
Jun B.Diagnostic considerations in patients presenting with transient vision loss.Mo Med.2016;113(1):63-7.
Kumral E, Uluakay A, Dönmez İ.Charles Bonnet syndrome in a patient with right medial occipital lobe infarction: epileptic or deafferentation phenomenon?Neurologist. 2015;20(1):13-5Michael D, Melnick, Tadin D, Huxlin KR.Re-learning to see in cortical blindness.Neuroscientist. 2016 Apr; 22(2): 199–212. doi:10.1177/1073858415621035
Kumral E, Uluakay A, Dönmez İ.Charles Bonnet syndrome in a patient with right medial occipital lobe infarction: epileptic or deafferentation phenomenon?Neurologist. 2015;20(1):13-5
Michael D, Melnick, Tadin D, Huxlin KR.Re-learning to see in cortical blindness.Neuroscientist. 2016 Apr; 22(2): 199–212. doi:10.1177/1073858415621035
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