Scotoma of the eye: what is it and how to treat it?

A person with good vision is able to see the world in all its glory. But it happens that the visible picture is violated for some reason, and entire areas fall out of the field of view of the person. Such a pathology is called scotoma in medicine. Disturbances are caused by changes in the functionality of the constituent elements of the eye, which are responsible for the light resistance.What is this disease and how to treat it?

Definition of disease

The scotoma of the eye is a blind spot located in the field of vision and not perceiving the light that enters the retina of the eye. The scotoma of the eye can be physiological (it is observed only at inspection and does not create inconveniences) and pathological when it breaks visual acuity. The disturbance is felt as a shadow, the blurriness of the image area or the flickering spot of various contours.

Also distinguish:

• Positive scotoma, which the patient himself feels in the form of a dark spot;
• Negative scotoma, in which the patient does not feel the changes, and to identify the pathology can only be using special methods of instrumental examination - kampimetry and perimetry.

Scotoma eyes

The intensity is given by:

• Absolute cattle, in which there is a complete loss of vision in one area, while the colors are not completely perceived.
• Relative scotoma, when vision is weakened in the defective area. Thus the patient distinguishes colors, however they seem less sated.

By location they distinguish:

• Central cattle:is located at the fixation point. Usually such scotomas are the initial sign of multiple sclerosis.
• Peripheral cattle:is divided into a paracentral (adjacent to one side to a fixed point) and pericentral (appears around the fixation point, but it does not affect it).

In a separate group, a ciliated cattle is distinguished, under which periodic fallout occurs in the fields of vision. Such fallouts are able to move around the periphery.Attacks of such scotoma continue in different ways: from a few minutes to a couple of hours. The patient sees the shimmering areas, they do not disappear even when the eyes are closed. The main cause of the defect is spasm of the cerebral vessels.

A separate phenomenon is Björrum's scotoma. This arc-shaped fall of the fields of vision, merging with a blind spot. Such a violation is the first sign of developing glaucoma, since the areas of prolapse arise with an increase in intraocular pressure. With decreasing pressure, the deposition areas disappear. At a late stage of glaucoma, spaces with poor eyesight become rings.

Causes

The scotoma of the eye often develops due to some disease, which causes compression of blood vessels and impaired blood flow to the optic nerves. Such diseases include:

• Glaucoma;
• Cataract;
• Injuries of the eye or of individual components of the visual apparatus;
• Retinitis;
• Insufficient supply of nutrients to the retina and then atrophy of the optic nerve;
• Migraine.

Symptoms

Symptoms of this disease are associated with impairment and perception of visual function.

The main manifestations of scotoma:

• Appearance in the eye of spots that interfere with perceiving objects fully;
• Periodic darkening in the eyes(or in one eye);
• Opacity in the eyes.

With the central scotoma, metabolic processes in the retina of the eye are disturbed.There is a disease in adolescence (from 8 to 15 years). In patients, the appearance of such a symptom as photophobia is noted.In the subsequent stage, color perception is impaired and vision is significantly reduced.If the pathological process develops further, the patient is noted for a complete atrophy of the visual apparatus, a change in the structure of the optic nerve.

Possible complications

The started stage of the scotoma can lead to loss of vision without the possibility of recovery.

With timely treatment in the ophthalmology center and revealing the cause of scotoma, the chances of recovery are 100%. However, in the future it will be necessary to visit the oculist regularly to prevent recurrence of the disease.

Treatment

To treat this violation, it is necessary to clearly know the cause of the disease. Only by eliminating the source that led to the development of scotoma, you can restore normal visibility.To this end, several methods of diagnosing scotoma are used. The first of these is the perimeter. The essence of it in the application of the test object, lying on the surface of a spherical shape.When observing it, the nature of the change in the field of vision is assessed, which will indicate a definite localization of the defect.

The second method of diagnosis is campimetry. The principle is the same, the only difference in the position of the object, which lies on a flat plane. Intensity of scotoma is determined by the study of color vision.

If necessary, apply and methods of diagnosis, such as:

• CT of the brain;
• Ophthalmoscopy;
• Measurement of intraocular pressure;
• Ultrasound of the eyeball.

Medication

Drug treatment is completely aimed at eliminating the main cause that caused the loss of sites from the field of vision.

Therapy includes:

• Purpose of vasodilator drugs;
• Vitamins of different groups;
• Reception of nicotinic acid;
• Biogenic stimulators.

Atrial scotomas, which have arisen because of spasm of cerebral vessels, are treated with spasmolytic drugs.

Surgical intervention

In the case of detection of retinal detachment, urgent surgical intervention is required, and if a tumor is detected, a decision is made to remove them.

Discontinuities of the retina are usually treated with a laser. If the cause of scotoma is compression of the entire optic nerve by a tumor of the brain, then carrying out treatment of such violations of the field of vision is already becoming secondary: the most important is the elimination tumor.

Prevention

The first and the main recommendation of the prevention of cattle is a regular visit to the oculist and the observance of the following rules:

• Normalization of the mental state;
• Regular monitoring of blood pressure;
• Observance of hygienic norms for the organs of sight.

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Drops for eyes with dry eye syndrome

Symptom of which diseases is photophobia will tell this article.

Optic neuritis http://eyesdocs.ru/zabolevaniya/redkie-bolezni/pochemu-voznikaet-retrobulbarnyj-nevrit-zritelnogo-nerva.html

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conclusions

Scotoma is a dangerous eye disease. However, with timely treatment and compliance with the recommendations of the doctor's forecast is quite favorable.

With all kinds of livestock, the outcome will depend on the complex diagnostic and timely qualified medical care. To avoid consequences and complications, it is necessary to consult a physician if you have a primary symptomatology.

Also read about what is conjunctival chemosis and eyeball hemophthalmus.