Question

Which disturbance results in loss of half of the visual field?

a) Anisocoria b) Homonymous hemianopsia c) Nystagmus d) Diplopia

Answer 1

The condition causing the loss of half of the visual field is homonymous hemianopsia, often due to optic pathway damage like a pituitary tumor pressing on the optic chiasm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The disturbance that results in the loss of half of the visual field is known as homonymous hemianopsia. This condition often suggests damage along the optic pathway, such as a pituitary tumor pressing on the optic chiasm. The result is a loss of lateral peripheral vision, where a patient is unable to see objects in the outermost areas of their visual field on the same side in both eyes. Unlike bilateral hemianopia, which affects both eyes resulting in a loss of the left or right side of the visual field, tunnel vision preserves the peripheral fields. The condition is directly tied to the organization of the optic pathways where the axons from the medial retinae decussate at the chiasm and are responsible for peripheral vision, indicating that damage at or after the optic chiasm can lead to such visual field deficits.