Neuro Opthalmology

What is Neuro Ophthalmology?

Neuro Ophthalmology is a specialty that concentrates on the neurological problems related to the eye. Like we all know, the human eye captures the visuals it sees and transmits to the brain to be resolved as images. It is the optic nerve that transmits these visual stimuli and a dysfunction of this entity might cause visual impairment and could even lead to irreparable damage.

Neuro-Ophthalmology is a super specialty that merges the fields of neurology and ophthalmology. Neuro-ophthalmologists are responsible for the diagnosis and management of complex systemic diseases of the nervous system that affect vision, eye movements and alignment, as well as pupillary reflexes.

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Symptoms

The typical symptoms that could signify a neuro-ophthalmological problem include:

Sudden decrease or loss of vision
Sudden transient loss of vision (called transient ischemic attack or eye stroke)
Visual hallucinations
Double vision or diplopia
Intractable headaches
Pupillary abnormalities (sluggish reaction, the difference in size of the pupils)
Sudden onset of difficulties in identifying colors
Inability to tolerate bright light
Visual Field Defects
Squint or strabismus (especially adult onset)

When should you visit your Neuro-Ophthalmologist?

Your eye doctor will usually suggest you visit an expert in Neuro-Ophthalmology after a comprehensive eye examination, in case you need special care. Often, the symptoms that prompt such a referral include those associated with optic nerve disease or diseases of the visual pathway (the nervous system component that connects the eyes to the brain). Other reasons could be the diseases affecting the pupils of the eye, and certain kinds of squint (especially paralytic).

What to Expect at the Neuro-Ophthalmologist

Before you go to a neuro-ophthalmology appointment, you should make sure that you have:

Your current eyeglasses and prescription
Relevant medical records
Copies of any MRIs, CT scans, or other eye tests

You’ll likely have your eyes dilated during your visit, so you should have someone come with you who can drive you home.

During your appointment, the neuro-ophthalmologist will do a thorough eye exam, go over your medical history and ask about the symptoms you’re having. The neuro-ophthalmologist may:

Test your vision and eye movement
Check your color vision and field vision
Examine your eyes with a slit lamp microscope
Assess your eye pressure
Perform a partial or complete neurological exam to test coordination and strength
Review any scans that you brought in for your appointment

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