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What Are The Symptoms Of Hemianopsia?

Posted on Mon, 5 May 2014

Question: I am a healthy 63 year old male. Well controlled blood pressure (125/70) and very healthy cholesterol levels - but I am a terrible HYPOCHONDRIAC. This morning I awoke in an unfamiliar hotel room around 3 am, groggy (obviously) but upon awakening saw only black out of the lower half of my right eye. I was sleeping on my right side and noticed this while my head was on the pillow. It lasted only a few seconds, and my vision was normal after I raised up my head. It is possible as I was sleeping on a much fluffier pillow, that the fluffed up pillow blocked my vision in the lower half of my eye, as that was the side of my face that was resting on the pillow. Again, it lasted only a few seconds and my vision immediately returned to normal after I raised my head up. I am a hypochondriacal nut, but looking for reassurance I don't have some form of hemianopsia. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (4 hours later)

Brief Answer: It does not seem to be hemianopsia. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for posting your query. I have noted your symptoms. I would like to reassure you that your symptoms do not sound like hemianopsia. This is because in hemianopsia, one half of vision in both eyes get affected. For only lower half (quadrant) to be affected, it is usually not seen with TIA (transient ischemic attack)-lack of blood supply to brain. Moreover, your blood pressure and cholesterol are normal, so, there is very little risk of TIA. I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information. Wishing you good health, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, India Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (6 minutes later)

Thanks - just one follow up....... Would hemianopsia (from TIA or tumor) cause a very brief (a few seconds) loss of vision or would the vision loss be more sustained? Thanks again. YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: My reply is below. Detailed Answer: Thank you for getting back. The hemianopsia due to TIA would last for a few minutes (usually 10-15 minutes; but by definition, may last upto 24 hours), and due to tumor, even longer (for hours to days). Best wishes, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sudhir Kumar (15 days later)

Hi, One follow up please. After driving home from vacation - 12 straight hours on the road - I was watching TV and nodded off in bed a few minutes. Upon awakening, I was very groggy, looked up at the TV and in my state of grogginess, it almost seemed like the image I saw out of my left eye on the TV was inverted (upside down). I "cleared" my head and immediately saw normal. 1. This only lasted a second or two. 2. I'm really not sure if it was really inverted or things just looked funny as I was very drowsy, not really focusing and coming out of my sleep. My wife thinks I'm crazy - which I probably am. Anyway, I experience anxiety over this type of stuff. Does this sound concerning or alarming, or more likely the result of fatigue and not focusing. As always, thanks for your help. Sincerely, YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Most likely the result of fatigue. Detailed Answer: Thank you for getting back. I have noted your symptoms and the events preceding that. I would like to reassure you that it is most likely a result of fatigue or not focussing and there is no need to worry about that. Best wishes, Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar