Cortical blindness (caecitas corticalis) is a form of visual impairment that affects the visual cortex of the brain. This leads to partial or complete loss of the ability to see, despite the preservation of the eyes and optic nerve.
The causes of cortical blindness can be different: stroke, brain injury, brain tumor, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. Damage to various parts of the visual cortex causes specific visual impairments. For example, when the occipital lobe is damaged, color perception disorders occur and peripheral vision is impaired.
Diagnosis of cortical blindness is based on an ophthalmological examination, which excludes eye pathology, and a neurological examination to identify the focus of brain damage. Treatment depends on the cause and involves removing the lesion if possible. Restoration of vision in cortical blindness depends on the location and degree of damage to the visual cortex. Complete restoration of vision is possible with local brain damage.