A stroke occurs when blood supply to a specific brain region is interrupted, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. Depending on the affected area, patients may experience various symptoms, including balance and vision disorders. If a stroke impacts visual information processing areas, such as the occipital lobe or brainstem, patients may develop vision problems.

Stroke survivors can experience varying degrees of vision impairment. While some changes may diminish over time or with therapy, others can be permanent. Stroke patients should seek medical evaluation for eye problems and to check for other underlying conditions. Here are some types of vision disorders after a stroke:

Partial visual field loss

The visual field encompasses the entire area one's eyes can perceive, including peripheral vision, when focused on one point. After a stroke, patients can lose a portion of their visual field, most commonly hemianopia, where only the left or right side of the visual field is visible.

Some individuals develop a scotoma, or blind spot, which can be central, causing objects to seemingly vanish when viewed. Visual field loss can also occur in the upper, lower, or peripheral regions, or even affect a quarter of the field.

Eye movement disorders

Damage to the nerves controlling eye muscles can make it difficult for patients to control eye movements. This can manifest as involuntary, continuous eye twitching, either horizontally, vertically, or rotationally. Some also face challenges looking to one side or tracking moving objects.

Visual neglect syndrome

This severe cognitive disorder, often resulting from brain damage like a stroke, causes patients to lose the ability to attend to or perceive one side of their visual field (left or right), despite having normal vision. Patients may fail to recognize or respond to objects on one side because the brain does not process information from that direction. This can occur in isolation or alongside partial vision loss, complicating the treatment process.

Visual agnosia

This less common disorder makes it difficult for patients to recognize familiar objects, faces, or surrounding scenes, despite having normal eyesight. The cause is the brain's inability to process and link visual information with memory.

Blurred or double vision

Nerve damage can lead to blurred vision or diplopia (double vision). This condition may improve with rehabilitation, but it can also persist.

Other issues like light sensitivity, difficulty blinking, or fully closing the eyes—leading to dryness and irritation—can also occur after a stroke. Disorders of depth perception and balance may also arise, increasing the risk of falls.

Bao Bao (According to Medical News Today)