Stroke is one of the leading circulatory diseases in the United States. The American Stroke Association defines a stroke as a disruption in the supply of nutrients to the brain, either due to a blood vessel blockage or bleeding in the brain. The symptoms of stroke often depend on where in the brain this attack takes place. Common stroke symptoms include difficulty with movement, sensation and speech. However, vision may also be affected.
Visual Field Cut
Hemianopia (also called hemianopsia), or visual field cut, is one of the most common visual symptom of stoke according to Community Services for the Blind and Partially Sighted (CSBPS). This visual field cut usually occurs on the same side as any stroke-related weakness. In other words, a person who has trouble moving his left side after a stroke may also have a decreased left visual field. Imagine drawing a line down the middle of your visual field, and erasing everything on one side of that line. This is similar to what people with hemianopia experience. Depending on what other areas of the brain were affected by the stroke, a person may or may not be aware that he has a visual field cut.
Visual Inattention and Neglect
A person may be only partially aware, or is completely unaware, of the visual field cut. In this case, she may demonstrate what is called visual inattention or visual neglect. The Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center describes inattention and neglect as a reduced awareness of stimuli on one side of the body. In other words, she may not be aware of anything that is on her affected visual side. Because of this, a person who has had a stroke may bump into objects, such as furniture or even doorways. She may also leave half of her dinner plate untouched. A person with visual inattention may be able to compensate for this by learning to turn her head to see what is on her affected side. However, a person with visual neglect following a stroke may always require assistance.
Double Vision
Diplopia, or double vision, is another possible visual symptom of a stroke. According to the Ohio State University Medical Center, diplopia may be caused by weakness in the muscles that control eye movements. Depending on where the stroke took place, one or both eyes may be affected. The person who had the stroke may see two of everything, making daily tasks a challenge. For some people, this symptom goes away as muscles become stronger. Others may have to compensate by covering one eye.
Visual Perception Problems
A person who has had a stroke in the area of the brain that controls perception may have difficulty interpreting what he sees. This can result in problems with depth perception, according to the National Stroke Association. A person may have trouble reaching and grasping objects, or determining how far away items are. In addition, his brain may interpret things in his visual field incorrectly. For some people, objects may appear to be upside down or switched from left to right.
