Ophthalmic manifestations in cases of occlusion of posterior cerebral artery

ABSTRACT

Twelve cases were included in the study. For each case the following was done Visual and non-visual history taking, routine ophthalmological examination, plotting of visual fields. All cases were examined neurologically. A computerized tomography [CT] scan confirming the diagnosis of occipital lobe infarction was required as an inclusion criterion. Follow up for at least 3 months was done. The most frequent ophthalmic finding was the presence of field defect in 83% of cases. This was in form of homonymous hemianopia in 41.7% of cases, double hemianopia with macular sparing in 25% of cases. The occipital lobe infarction was unilateral in 58.3% of cases and bilateral in 41.7% of cases. Amnestic aphasia was the most common non-ophthalmological finding [25%]. The ophthalmologist must be aware of findings in cases of occlusion of posterior cerebral artery. The two most important investigations required are plotting of the visual fields and performing a brain CT scan