About Vision Loss after Brain Injury or Stroke

Vision loss after stroke or traumatic brain injury may include a visual blind spot (or scotoma), visual field loss (hemianopia/quadrantanopia), general blurring, and many other symptoms. This overview of vision loss summarizes what types of vision deficits are common among survivors of stroke and brain injury, and how they can be treated.

• Causes of Vision Loss — Stroke and Brain Injury
  • Vision Loss after Stroke
  • Vision Loss after Brain Injury
• Types of Vision Loss
  • Visual Blind Spot (Scotoma)
  • Hemianopia (Hemianopsia)
  • Quadrantanopia (Quadrantic Hemianopia)
  • Diffuse Visual Field Defects (Low Vision)
• Treating Vision Loss after Brain Injury or Stroke

Causes of Vision Loss — Stroke and Brain Injury

Vision loss can be caused by a variety of diseases and injuries, including age-related eye conditions such as presbyopia, cataracts, and macular degeneration. In addition, stroke and traumatic head injuries can produce sudden and dramatic vision loss. There are many types of brain injury–related visual field deficits, and each type affects a person’s life in significant and sometimes devastating ways.

Vision Loss after Stroke

Vision loss after stroke can range from slight to severe. Vision loss often appears along with other disabilities such as partial paralysis, memory problems, and a variety of other cognitive, physical, and behavioral changes. Vision problems after a stroke stem from damage to the brain or optic nerve.

Vision Loss after Brain Injury

Any kind of brain injury can cause optic nerve damage and vision changes. Most commonly, people experience vision loss after a brain injury sustained during a traumatic blow to the head, such as in a car accident.

Types of Vision Loss

Following a stroke or a brain injury, damage to the optic nerve and other parts of the brain can result in a visual blind spot, partial vision loss, or one or more types of visual field defects.

Visual Blind Spot (Scotoma)

Scotoma is a visual blind spot occurring in any part of the visual field. A scotoma can be an area of vision loss (darkness), lightness, blurring, or distortion. When a scotoma is in a person’s peripheral vision, it may have a minimal impact on day-to-day functioning; however, a visual blind spot in the center of the visual field can be debilitating.

Hemianopia (Hemianopsia)

Hemianopia, also called hemianopsia, is a common type of vision loss after stroke or brain injury. Hemianopia is defined as diminished vision or full vision loss (blindness) in one half of the visual field.

Quadrantanopia (Quadrantic Hemianopia)

A specific type of hemianopia, quadrantanopia (quadrantanopsia/quadrantic hemianopia) is characterized by low vision or vision loss in one quarter of the visual field.

Diffuse Visual Field Defects (Low Vision)

Low vision, also known as visual field cut or visual field deficits, can be characterized by generally blurred vision, tunnel vision, scattered areas of darkness, and other problems affecting sight.

Treating Vision Loss after Brain Injury or Stroke

Recent research into neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to develop, change, and heal itself — has helped scientists create new techniques to facilitate vision rehabilitation after stroke or brain injury. One such technique, NovaVision VRT™ Vision Restoration Therapy™ is cleared by the FDA and has shown encouraging results in studies. This method of vision rehabilitation involves no surgery or medication. Instead, it is completed in daily, at-home sessions after an initial evaluation is administered at a VRT Center.

Learn More about Visual Blind Spots and Treatment for Vision Loss

To learn more about the types of vision loss common after stroke or brain injury, as well as treatment options, please contact NovaVision™ by email, or call NovaVision Patient Services toll-free at 1.866.414.0009.