ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: A significant portion of the brain is involved in vision related activities. Strokes involving these areas of the brain do present with diverse neuro-ophthalmic manifestations due to the embryonic relationship between the eye and the brain. This study is aimed at finding out the types and magnitude of neuro-ophthalmic manifestations in these strokes, with a view to improve the diagnostic accuracy and management of these strokes.
METHODS: This hospital based cross-sectional study recruited 102 participants with strokes involving the vision related areas of the brain at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. All the participants had comprehensive ophthalmic, and neurological assessment , as well as a thorough clinical evaluation.
RESULTS: Out of the 102 recruited participants, males were 56 (55%), with majority of
participants 60 (58.8%) in the age group 41-65. The commonest anatomical site involved was
multi-territorial , followed by the basal ganglia and the frontal lobe of the cerebrum in that
order. The most common neuro-ophthalmic finding was nystagmus 69(67.6%), followed by
gaze abnormalities 46 (45.1%), abnormalities in saccades 37(36.2%) and smooth pursuit
36(35.2% ), among others. Abnormal corneal sensations in 36(35.3%), was the most
common anterior segment abnormality and optic disc pallor in 65(63.7%) for the posterior
segment .Abnormal depth perception was found in most participants 87(85.3%).
CONCLUSION: This study shows the diverse neuro-ophthalmic findings in strokes involving the vision related areas of the brain, with effects seen in the anterior segment and posterior segment of the eye, as well as other functional visual consequences.