Duration
The duration of the scotoma depends on the cause of the scotoma, how quickly it is found and then treated. As long as the associated area of the brain is less supplied with oxygen, there is an increased intracranial pressure or there is a disease of the retina or the optic nerve, there will be no improvement. However, it is not possible to give an exact time. The occurrence of a ciliated scotoma in migraine, however, is limited in time. Usually, the duration is limited to about 20 to 30 minutes.
Prognosis of the scotoma
The prognosis of scotoma also depends on the underlying disease and can vary from completely reversible courses to complete blindness. If a scotoma develops as a result of a head injury or stroke, the chances of a complete recovery of vision after a timely operation are good. The occurrence of a ciliated scotoma in migraine is also reversible and even temporary. However, if the underlying cause is a disease of the retina, the loss of visual field remains irreparable forever. In this case, the only ray of hope for patients is that the progression of the visual disturbance is stopped or at least slowed down by the therapy of the underlying disease.
What is the difference between a blind spot and a scotoma?
The blind spot is a physiological scotoma that is completely normal and occurs in every human being. In the place of the blind spot, the optic nerve enters the eyeball. There are no photoreceptors there, which causes a bilateral visual field loss about 15 degrees temporally from the center of the visual field.
As a result, objects at a certain angle to the blind spot are not seen. However, this effect is compensated for by the other eye, so that we do not even perceive the blind spot as such. In contrast, scotoma always has a disease value.
The causes for its occurrence can be versatile and dangerous to different degrees. If a visual field loss occurs, it should be clarified and treated as soon as possible.
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