Clinical and radiologic evaluation of optic pathway lesions

The clinical evaluation can often suggest the level of a visual pathway lesion; however, several different types of pathological processes, can produce the same visual field deficit. Imaging evaluation with CT and/or MRI can help to localize and characterize these diverse types of pathology. A radiological differential diagnosis can then be suggested which, in turn, facilitates patient management. In certain instances, the specific cause of a visual field defect can be identified with the radiological evaluation.