suppression scotoma
An area of visual field loss caused by cortical inhibition of input from one eye to prevent diplopia in strabismus.
Full Definition
A suppression scotoma is a functional blind spot that develops as the brain's adaptive response to prevent double vision in patients with binocular misalignment. This cortical suppression can be central, involving the foveal area, or peripheral, affecting only certain areas of the visual field. In children, suppression scotomas can become deeply ingrained and may persist even after successful strabismus correction. The density and extent of suppression can be measured using various clinical tests and significantly impact the potential for binocular vision recovery.
Usage
Usage note: Specify whether central or peripheral, and distinguish from organic visual field defects.
In Context
- "Dense central suppression scotoma prevented the development of diplopia despite the 20-prism diopter esotropia." — Binocular vision assessment
- "Elimination of the suppression scotoma required intensive orthoptic exercises following surgical alignment." — Post-operative vision therapy plan