How Do You Spell POSITIVE SCOTOMA?

Pronunciation: [pˈɒzɪtˌɪv skətˈə͡ʊmə] (IPA)

Positive scotoma is a medical term used to describe a visual phenomenon where a person sees a blind spot or a dark area in their field of vision. The word is spelled as [ˈpɑzətɪv skəˈtoʊmə], and the IPA phonetic transcription can be broken down as follows: the stressed syllables are "PAZ-a-tive" and "ska-TO-ma," with the "a" pronounced as a short vowel sound. The word "positive" refers to the fact that the blind spot is perceived as a dark or colored spot, rather than no spot at all.

POSITIVE SCOTOMA Meaning and Definition

1. A positive scotoma is a term used in ophthalmology to describe a specific type of visual disturbance where a person experiences the perception of abnormal bright spots or shapes in their field of vision. The term "positive" is utilized to indicate the presence or addition of abnormal visual stimuli in the person's vision. A scotoma, on the other hand, refers to an area of impaired vision or blindness within the visual field.

   This visual phenomenon generally involves the perception of bright or luminous flashes, flickers, or shimmering patterns that are not actually present in the person's external environment. Positive scotomas can present in varying sizes, shapes, colors, and levels of intensity, and may occur in one or both eyes. They typically appear as well-defined patches or clusters that persist for a few moments before fading away.

   Positive scotomas can result from a variety of underlying causes, including retinal disorders, migraines, and ocular or neurological conditions. Retinal disturbances, such as retinal detachment or ischemia, can disrupt the normal visual processing and lead to the development of positive scotomas. Migraines often involve visual disturbances, including positive scotomas, as part of the aura phase that precedes the onset of a headache. Certain ocular or neurological conditions, such as optic neuritis or multiple sclerosis, can also cause positive scotomas.

   A thorough examination by an ophthalmologist is crucial to determine the cause of positive scotomas and develop an appropriate treatment plan, targeting the underlying condition if present.

2. One which is perceived subjectively as a black spot within the field of vision.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for POSITIVE SCOTOMA

• oositive scotoma
• lositive scotoma
• -ositive scotoma
• 0ositive scotoma
• pisitive scotoma
• pksitive scotoma
• plsitive scotoma
• ppsitive scotoma
• p0sitive scotoma
• p9sitive scotoma
• poaitive scotoma
• pozitive scotoma
• poxitive scotoma
• poditive scotoma
• poeitive scotoma
• powitive scotoma
• posutive scotoma
• posjtive scotoma
• posktive scotoma
• posotive scotoma

Etymology of POSITIVE SCOTOMA

The term "positive scotoma" can be broken down into two parts:

1. Positive: In this context, "positive" refers to the presence of something abnormal or additional. It is derived from the Latin word "positivus", meaning "having been placed" or "affirmative".

2. Scotoma: The word "scotoma" comes from the Greek word "skotoma", which means "darkness". In medical terminology, a scotoma refers to an area of impaired or lost vision.

Therefore, the etymology of "positive scotoma" suggests that it refers to an abnormal or additional perception of darkness or impaired vision in a specific area.