An Analysis of Visual Fields in Patients with Post-traumatic Functional Visual Loss

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Recently, patients complaining visual disability following an accident is increasing. Using detailed ophthalmological test, the authors estimated the incidence of the functional visual loss(FVL) and its characteristics. METHODS: Sixty nine patients were evaluated because of visual complaints after traffic accidents. Goldmann perimetry, Humphrey field analyzer, tangent screen, or confrontation test was used to test visual field. FVL was diagnosed when patients in patients complained but visual field loss which was inconsistent with clinical symptom and sign. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients(55%) were identified to have functional visual loss. Higher incidence was documented in women (16 of 20, 80%) than in men (22 of 49, 45%). All of them showed the visual fields findings which were compatible with FVL including visual field constriction, spiral field, "clover-leaf" pattern or tubular field. CONCLUSIONS: Although the visual field examination is no more than a subjective test, it is one of the most useful method for disclosing FVL. To correlate the patient's symptoms and visual field findings, detailed ophthalmic examination and patient's socio-economic backgrounds should be taken into account.