Neuro-ophthalmology focuses on vision concerns connected to the optic nerves, eye movement nerves and the parts of the brain involved in sight. Sometimes, a visual change may be present even when the eye itself appears healthy.
At Dr Dony Mathew | Cape Town Eye Centre, your symptoms and eye health are carefully assessed to determine where the problem may be coming from and whether further investigation is needed by our ophthalmologist in Bellville.
What is neuro-ophthalmology?
Your eyes collect visual information, but your optic nerves and brain are responsible for carrying and interpreting that information. The nerves controlling your eye movements also help your eyes work together and maintain a single, clear image.
Neuro-ophthalmology considers this entire visual pathway. It is particularly relevant when a change in vision may be associated with the optic nerve, nervous system or coordination of the eyes.
What symptoms may require an assessment?
Neuro-ophthalmic symptoms can develop gradually or appear unexpectedly. They may affect one eye, both eyes or only a particular area of your vision.
You may notice changes such as:
Vision becoming blurred or less clear without an obvious reason
Seeing double
Colours looking less bright in one eye
A shadow, blank spot or missing area in your vision
Difficulty keeping your eyes aligned or moving them together
A drooping eyelid or a noticeable change in pupil size
Visual symptoms occurring alongside headaches
Double vision can have several possible causes involving the eyes, muscles, nerves or brain. An assessment helps determine whether the images remain doubled when both eyes are open and what may be affecting their alignment.
What can cause neuro-ophthalmic symptoms?
There are several possible causes. Some conditions affect the optic nerve directly, while others interfere with the nerves controlling eye movement or the areas of the brain responsible for processing sight.
Symptoms may be associated with inflammation, changes in blood flow, increased pressure around the brain or another neurological condition. Optic nerve damage may affect central vision, colour vision, contrast or a specific part of the visual field.
An assessment is therefore important, as similar symptoms can have very different underlying causes.
How are these concerns assessed?
Your appointment begins with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, when they started and whether they have changed over time.
The examination may include:
Testing how clearly you can see
Assessing colour vision and pupil responses
Checking your eye movements and alignment
Examining the optic nerves and retina
Measuring your field of vision
Performing detailed eye scans where appropriate
If your symptoms require further investigation, additional imaging, medical tests or input from another healthcare specialist may be recommended.
Broader concerns about your eye health can also be explored through a comprehensive eye assessment.
When should you seek urgent care?
Sudden loss of vision or newly developed double vision should not be ignored. Seek urgent medical attention if these symptoms occur with a severe headache, weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion or problems with balance.
What should you do next?
If your vision has changed without a clear explanation, or your eyes no longer appear to work together as they did before, it is worth arranging an assessment. A careful examination can help identify which part of the visual pathway may be affected and guide your next steps with our ophthalmologist in Bellville, Cape Town.