Loss of vision

Assessment of the patient with vision loss includes measurement of visual acuity, examination of the pupil, a finger-counting confrontation field examination, and an ophthalmoscopic examination. Opticokinetic testing is useful when functional blindness is being considered. A scheme is presented to use these findings to arrive at the anatomic level of this dysfunction. A differential diagnosis can then be generated. Some specific disorders causing vision loss are presented by anatomic location.