Can you explain what hemianopsia is? What kind of therapy can be used in treating this disorder?
Hemianopsia is a loss of vision off to one side. One-half of the visual field in each eye is affected –the same half in either eye. This is due to a lesion in the visual pathways in the posterior portion of the brain. The problem is not specific for stroke, but stroke is a common cause. Hemianopsia is not a problem with the eyes; rather it is a problem of the part of the brain that interprets visual information. When hemianopsia is due to stroke, the damage to the visual area of the brain may be permanent. We currently know of nothing to repair this damage; neither do we know how to re-train surviving nerve cells to take over the function that has been lost. Some optometrists have tried special lenses that widen the field of view. Other therapists have used eye movement exercises to improve the functional field of view. These techniques can be of benefit to some individuals, but they don’t restore normal sight. Back to Top Question: Before my stroke, I never seemed to have any problem
