Neuro Ophthalmology Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
hemianopsia
Loss of vision in half of the visual field of one or both eyes.
phototransduction
The biochemical process by which photoreceptors convert light energy into electrical signals for neural transmission.
PION
Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy; vision loss due to ischemia of the posterior optic nerve.
pseudotumor cerebri
Condition of elevated intracranial pressure without identifiable cause, presenting with papilledema and visual symptoms.
ptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid due to weakness of the levator muscle or its innervation.
pupillary light reflex
Automatic pupillary constriction in response to bright light, mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system through the...
pursuit
Smooth, voluntary eye movements used to track slowly moving objects and maintain fixation on them.
pursuit initiation
The early phase of smooth pursuit eye movements when the eyes begin to track a moving target.
quadrantanopia
Visual field defect affecting one quarter of the visual field.
RAPD
Asymmetric pupillary response to light indicating unilateral or asymmetric optic nerve dysfunction.
relative afferent pupillary defect
An asymmetry in pupillary light responses indicating unilateral or asymmetric optic nerve dysfunction, detected by swing...
retinogeniculate pathway
The neural pathway connecting retinal ganglion cells to the lateral geniculate nucleus, crucial for conscious vision.
retrochiasmal lesion
Pathology affecting the visual pathway posterior to the optic chiasm, typically producing homonymous visual field defect...
saccade
Rapid, ballistic eye movement that redirects gaze between fixation points.
saccadic intrusions
Abnormal fast eye movements that interrupt steady fixation, indicating dysfunction of brainstem or cerebellar eye moveme...
scotoma
An area of diminished or absent vision within the visual field, which may be absolute or relative.
skew deviation
Vertical misalignment of eyes due to brainstem or cerebellar dysfunction.
smooth pursuit
Slow, continuous eye movements that track moving objects.
stereopsis
Three-dimensional depth perception resulting from the brain's processing of slightly different images from each eye (bin...
supranuclear gaze palsy
Eye movement disorder affecting voluntary gaze while preserving reflex eye movements, indicating brainstem pathology abo...
supranuclear palsy
Paralysis of eye movements due to lesions above the cranial nerve nuclei, affecting gaze centers or cortical control.
transient visual obscuration
Brief episodes of visual loss lasting seconds, typically associated with increased intracranial pressure and papilledema...
VEP
Electrophysiological test measuring electrical activity in the visual cortex in response to visual stimuli.
vergence
Simultaneous movement of both eyes in opposite directions to maintain binocular fixation.
versional eye movement
Conjugate eye movements where both eyes move in the same direction.