Bitemporal hemianopia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

Synonyms and keywords: Bitemporal hemianopsia

Historical Perspective and Etymology

"Bitemporal hemianopia" can be broken down as follows:

• bi-: involves both left and right visual fields
• temporal: involves the temporal visual field
• hemi-: involves half of each visual field
• anosia: blindness (formed by a(n) ^no + opsis ^vision + ia)

Pathophysiology

Hemianopia results from a lesion of the optic chiasm. This is the area where optic nerves from right cross over to the left and vice versa. Visual information from the temporal visual field falls on the nasal retina and information from nasal field falls on temporal retina. At the optic chiasm nasal fibers of retina cross over to other side and carries information to the higher centers. Thus, when there is a lesion of optic chiasm, the nasal fibers of both the retina are affected leading to loss of information from both the temporal (outer) visual fields.

Causes

Common Causes

• Pituitary macroadenoma
• Craniopharyngioma
• Meningioma
• Aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	No underlying causes
Chemical / poisoning	No underlying causes
Dermatologic	Dermatochalasis
Drug Side Effect	Chloroquine retinopathy
Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	Pituatary macroadenoma, Prolactinoma
Environmental	No underlying causes
Gastroenterologic	No underlying causes
Genetic	No underlying causes
Hematologic	No underlying causes
Iatrogenic	No underlying causes
Infectious Disease	No underlying causes
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	No underlying causes
Neurologic	Chloroquine retinopathy, Pituitary macroadenoma, Prolactinoma, Craniopharyngioma, Aneurysm of anterior communicating artery, Intracranial vascular loop, Meningioma, Enlarged third ventricle, Glioma of third ventricle, Chronic chiasmal arachnoiditis, Suprasellar tumors, Adamantinoma of sella turcica, Optic neuropathy, Optic chiasmal syndrome, Obstructive hydrocephalus, Traumatic chiasmal syndrome, Dolichoectasia of internal carotid arteries
Nutritional / Metabolic	No underlying causes
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Hypophyseal hypertrophy in pregnancy
Oncologic	Adamantinoma of sella turcica, Craniopharyngioma, Glioma of third ventricle, Pituitary macroadenoma, Prolactinoma, Meningioma, Suprasellar tumors
Opthalmologic	Dermatochalasis, Optic neuropathy, Optic chiasmal syndrome, Bilateral blepharoptosis, Traumatic chiasmal syndrome
Overdose / Toxicity	No underlying causes
Psychiatric	No underlying causes
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal / Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	No underlying causes
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	Traumatic chiasmal syndrome
Urologic	No underlying causes
Dental	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	No underlying causes

Causes in Alphabetical Order

• Adamantinoma of sella turcica
• Aneurysm of anterior communicating artery
• Bilateral blepharoptosis
• Chloroquine retinopathy
• Chronic chiasmal arachnoiditis
• Craniopharyngioma
• Dermatochalasis
• Dolichoectasia of internal carotid arteries
• Enlarged third ventricle
• Glioma of third ventricle
• Hypophyseal hypertrophy in pregnancy
• Intracranial vascular loop
• Meningioma
• Obstructive hydrocephalus
• Optic chiasmal syndrome
• Optic neuropathy
• Pituitary macroadenoma
• Prolactinoma
• Suprasellar tumors
• Traumatic chiasmal syndrome

See also

• Binasal hemianopsia
• Homonymous hemianopsia