Vision Problems Could Indicate Brain Disorders, Neurosurgeon Warns

A consultant neurosurgeon has stated that vision problems can be linked to issues in the brain or nervous system. Dr. Abhijit G Warade, a consultant neurosurgeon at P. D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre in India, explained that the eye is essentially an “extension of the brain.” “Visual signals travel from the eye through the optic nerve, optic chiasm, and optic tract before reaching the visual cortex in the occipital lobe,” he said, as quoted by the Hindustan Times on Saturday. “Disruptions along this neural pathway, whether due to tumours, increased pressure inside the head, or vascular disorders, can first manifest as visual complaints,” he added. He noted that vision disturbances can be one of the first signs of a brain tumour. According to him, a tumour called a pituitary adenoma can cause gradual vision loss that may go unnoticed by the sufferer in its early stages. He said another type of tumour that can affect vision is a craniopharyngioma. These tumours, which can occur in both children and adults, are generally congenital and develop in the same region as the pituitary gland. Optic pathway gliomas, which develop along the optic pathway, also impact vision. Because they damage the nerves involved in sight, these types of tumours can cause a decline in vision or even complete vision loss. Dr. Warade stated that these types of tumours affecting vision can be treated with surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment, he said, can improve the chances of recovering vision affected by a tumour. “It is important for you to identify these neurological red flags, such as sudden vision loss, new onset double vision, or progressive visual field defects,” he said.