Quadrantanopia

Quadrantanopia is a medical term that means you have a loss of vision in one quarter (one-fourth) of your visual field. You can divide your visual field into four parts or quadrants.

You have a right and left quadrant on the top and a right and left quadrant on the bottom. Quadrantanopia means that you can’t see out of one of those spaces. They appear to be blacked out.

If you can’t see out of one half of your field of vision, you have hemianopia. “Anopia” means the absence of vision, or blindness. The “hemi” means one-half and the “quadrant” means one-fourth.

Another name for quadrantanopia is quadrantopsia.

Are there types of quadrantanopia?

There are different types of quadrantanopia depending on which quadrant is affected.

If you have loss of vision in the same quadrant of both eyes, you have homonymous quadrantanopia.
Loss of vision can affect the upper (superior) quadrants in the left-hand quadrant or the right-hand quadrant.
Loss of vision can affect the lower (inferior) quadrants in the left-hand quadrant or the right-hand quadrant.
Binasal quadrantanopia affects the upper or lower quadrants closest to your nose.
Bitemporal quadrantanopia affects the upper or lower quadrants farthest from your nose and closest to your temples.

Another term for a homonymous superior quadrantanopia is “pie in the sky” quadrantanopia. Another term for loss of vision in the lower quadrants is “pie on the floor” quadrantanopia.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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