Cortical blindness
High Yield Notes
6 pages
Flashcards
Cortical blindness
0 of 12 complete
Questions
USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE
0 of 1 complete
A 67-year-old man presents to the emergency department for evaluation of visual impairment. The patient has not had headache, trauma, or difficulty with speech, swallowing, or walking. Past medical history is significant for coronary artery disease, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Temperature is 37°C (98.6°F), pulse is 120/min (irregularly irregular), respirations are 17/min and blood pressure is 160/90 mm Hg. On neurological examination, the patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time. Speech is fluent, and the patient follows all commands. Visual field examination findings are shown below. The remainder of the neurological examination is within normal limits. Perfusion of which of the following regions of the brain is most likely impaired in this patient?
Summary
Cortical blindness is a type of blindness that is caused by damage to the brain, specifically the occipital (visual) cortex. This type of blindness can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause of the damage. It is usually caused by stroke, most commonly involving the posterior cerebral artery. Symptoms of cortical blindness include difficulty seeing objects or people, confusion, and lack of coordination.