Binasal hemianopia is a medical condition that causes a loss of vision in the outer halves of both eyes. The pronunciation of this term is written as /baɪnəsəl hɛmiənoʊpiə/. The first syllable "bi" means two, and "nasal" refers to the nose. "Hemianopia" means half blindness. So, "binasal hemianopia" literally refers to the loss of vision on both sides of the nose. This condition can be caused by a variety of neurological and vascular diseases, and it requires medical attention to manage the underlying cause.
Binasal hemianopia is a medical condition characterized by a specific type of visual field defect. It is a form of hemianopia, which refers to the loss of half of the visual field in both eyes. In the case of binasal hemianopia, the loss of vision occurs in the outer halves of the visual field of both eyes, specifically in the nasal (inner) portions of each eye's visual field.
This condition typically arises from damage to the optic chiasm, which is the point at which the optic nerves from each eye intersect. The optic chiasm is responsible for the crossing over of visual information from the nasal halves of the visual field to the opposite side of the brain. In the case of binasal hemianopia, this crossing over process is disrupted, leading to a loss of vision in the nasal portion of both eyes.
The most common cause of binasal hemianopia is pressure or compression on the optic chiasm, often due to the presence of a tumor or aneurysm in the brain. Other potential causes include head trauma, stroke, or certain genetic conditions.
Symptoms of binasal hemianopia may include difficulty seeing objects on the sides of the visual field, reduced peripheral vision, problems with spatial awareness, and potential reading difficulties. Treatment options depend on the underlying cause of the condition and may involve surgical intervention, medication, or vision rehabilitation techniques.
The term "binasal hemianopia" is composed of two words: "binasal" and "hemianopia".
The word "binasal" comes from the Latin prefix "bi-" meaning "two" or "double", and "nasal" referring to "the nose". In ophthalmology, "binasal" is used to describe something related to both nasal (inner) sides of the visual field.
The word "hemianopia" is derived from Greek. "Hemi-" means "half", and "anopia" means "blindness". "Hemianopia" refers to partial or complete loss of vision in one half of the visual field.
Therefore, "binasal hemianopia" describes a condition where a person experiences visual field loss from both sides of the nose, resulting in a specific pattern of visual impairment.