Central Scotoma, Centrocecal Scotoma

Central Scotoma, Centrocecal Scotoma

These visual field defects are typical of retinal or optic nerve pathology. They may be mapped by confrontation testing or automatically.

• Central scotoma:
  • Field defect occupying the macula, due to involvement of the macula or the papillomacular bundle; this is the typical (but not exclusive) finding in optic neuritis, but may also be seen with disease of the macula, optic nerve compression, Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. Examination for a concurrent contralateral superior temporal defect should be undertaken: such junctional scotomas may be seen with lesions at the anterior angle of the chiasm.
• Centrocecal or cecocentral scotoma:
  • Field defect involving both the macula and the Blind spot; seen in optic nerve disease, such as Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, toxic or nutritional optic neuropathies (said to be typical of vitamin B12 deficiency optic neuropathy), sometimes in optic neuritis.

Cross References

Junctional scotoma, Junctional scotoma of traquair; Scotoma; Visual field defects