Are Scotomas dangerous?

Scintillating scotomas are typically benign, meaning that they aren’t a cause for concern and they go away without treatment. Recurring scintillating scotomas can indicate other health conditions, such as migraine, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and preeclampsia.

Is a scotoma an emergency?

Some other symptoms of scotoma include trouble seeing certain colors or feeling as though you can’t see clearly in dim light. Usually a scotoma isn’t serious, but it can be a sign of a bigger problem with your vision or your health.

Can scotoma cause blindness?

The absence of vision may or may not progress across the visual field. Retinal migraine may result in the same type of visual deficit (negative aura); however, positive scotoma or blindness is also possible.

Why does scotoma occur?

The most common causes of central scotomas are disorders of the optic nerve, choroid or retina, such as macular degeneration. Eye infections that result in a scar or strokes, tumors, and traumatic brain injuries may result in this type of vision loss.

Can glaucoma cause scotoma?

Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy can cause paracentral scotomas. In the case of glaucoma, the scotoma may be arc-shaped and therefore called an arcuate scotoma. A paracentral scotoma may occur by itself or there may be more than one of these blind spots in your vision.

How long can a scotoma last?

Most scintillating scotomas are temporary and last anywhere from a few seconds to up to 30 minutes. Often, they are associated with migraine headaches (and therefore are sometimes called a migraine scotoma).

Can you drive with scotoma?

The size, density, and location of a scotoma determine whether you can see well enough to drive safely. Although you may still have sharpness of vision (acuity) that will allow you to legally keep driving, there are some factors to consider before you get behind the wheel.

What is a scotoma mean?

Definition of scotoma : a spot in the visual field in which vision is absent or deficient.

What does it mean when you see wavy lines in your peripheral vision?

Wavy or distorted lines in your vision could be a sign that you have keratoconus, but it could also be an indicator for retinal tears, retinal detachment, or macular degeneration. These eye conditions need to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible so that you can maintain crisp, clear vision.

How is scotoma or blind spots in vision diagnosed?

In the initial stages of scotoma or blind spots in vision, a physical examination will help its diagnosis. The eyes are carefully examined accompanied by a detailed medical history. Medical tests and examinations which are used to diagnose scotoma include:

What causes scotomas in the eye?

Many things can cause scotomas. They can be caused by surgery that doctors do to fix something else in the eye. They can come from an infection in the eye that left a scar. The infection may have happened while the baby was still growing in the mother. They can be caused by an eye problem called retinitis pigmentosa.

Should I be concerned about a blind spot in vision?

If yes, you should seek immediate medical help as it can indicate a serious problem. Blind spots in vision, also known as a scotoma, can affect one or both eyes. These blind spots can occur in the center or in the edges of your vision. Seek medical care from an ophthalmologist if scotoma appears.

Do people with scotomas have different vision?

People who have scotomas have different vision depending on where the scotoma is. People who have a central scotoma may have trouble seeing colors and details. It may be hard for them to know who people are by looking at their faces. They may have a hard time reading regular size print.