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Polyopia

Polyopia

Polyopia, or polyopsia, is a visual illusory phenomenon in which a single target is seen as multiple images, most usually double but sometimes higher multiples (e.g., entomopia), persisting when looking away from the object. This may be likened to "echoes" of the image, and eye movement may produce a trailing effect. Polyopia may be related to palinopsia.
Polyopia is associated with occipital and occipito-parietal lesions, bilateral or confined to the nondominant hemisphere, and with drug abuse. It has also been described in disease of the retina and optic nerve, and occasionally in normal individuals.
The pathophysiology is unknown; suggestions include a defect of visual fixation or of visual integration; the latter may reflect pure occipital cortical dysfunction.

 

References

Pomeranz HD, Lessell S. Palinopsia and polyopia in the absence of drugs or cerebral disease. Neurology 2000; 54: 855-859

 

Cross References

Entomopia; Illusion; Palinopsia