[Visual problems in cerebral stroke]

It is estimated that every year 13,000 persons in Norway have a cerebral stroke. Visual problems after cerebral stroke are frequent but visual rehabilitation is rarely performed. We wanted to estimate the frequency of a visual field defect being detected in patients with cerebral stroke during their stay in a medical department.

Twenty consecutive patients referred to the hospital with cerebral stroke had their visual field examined in the department of medicine with Donders' method. Eighteen of the patients could cooperate in an examination by eye clinic personnel in which visual acuity, eye motility and fundus of the eye were also examined.

Visual acuity was mostly within normal limits. No patient had a visual acuity of less than 0.4. Two patients had homonymous visual field defects. Both were detected in the department of medicine. Disturbances of eye motility were detected in 10 patients.

Visual problems are common in patients with cerebral stroke. Homonymous defects in the visual field can be detected in the medical departments and visual training should be given. The nature of the disturbances in eye motility is not understood.