The optic pathway includes the retina, optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic radiations, and occipital cortex (see Fig. 1: Optic Nerve Disorders: Higher visual pathways—lesion sites and corresponding visual field defects.). Damage along the optic pathway causes a variety of visual field changes (see Table 1: Approach to the Ophthalmologic Patient: Types of Field Defects ).

Fig. 1
Higher visual pathways—lesion sites and corresponding visual field defects. With retrochiasmal lesions, visual field defects tend to become more symmetric (congruous), as shown with the occipital lesion in #4.

Last full review/revision September 2012 by James Garrity, MD

Content last modified November 2012