VISUAL SCOTOMATA WITH INTRACRANIAL LESIONS AFFECTING THE OPTIC NERVE

Abstract
Central scotomata are usually interpreted to be due to pressure anywhere on the optic nerve which affects hypersensitive macular fibers, or to depleted blood supply. A series of 7 cases indicates that intracranial pressure on the optic nerve from above or below just posterior to the optic foramen is capable of compressing the ophthalmic artery before it vascularizes the nerve. Nerve pressure alone cannot account for the perimetric changes observed in some cases.
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