Question

All of the following conditions may mimic glaucomatous visual field loss except: a. branch retinal artery occlusion b. retinitis pigmentosa c. cerebrovascular accident d. chorioretinal scar e. none of the above

Short answer

Answer: None of the above.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss

Glaucomatous visual field loss is a characteristic pattern of vision loss, usually starting from the peripheral vision and progressing towards central vision. This loss is a result of damage to the optic nerve, often caused by an increase in intraocular pressure.

Option A: Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion

Branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) is a condition in which a clot obstructs an artery supplying blood to the retina, causing the affected area to lose its function and vision. It can cause a sudden, painless vision loss in a specific part of the visual field, which is similar to glaucomatous visual field loss. Therefore, option A mimics glaucomatous visual field loss.

Option B: Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of genetic disorders affecting the retina that results in the gradual degeneration of photoreceptors. One of the main symptoms of RP is the gradual loss of peripheral vision, which can mimic glaucomatous visual field loss. Thus, option B also mimics glaucomatous visual field loss.

Option C: Cerebrovascular Accident

A cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, can lead to vision loss due to damage in areas of the brain responsible for processing visual information. A stroke can produce a variety of visual field defects, including vision loss in specific parts of the visual field, similar to the pattern of glaucomatous visual field loss. Therefore, option C can mimic glaucomatous visual field loss.

Option D: Chorioretinal Scar

Chorioretinal scars are fibrous tissue formations between the choroid and retina, typically resulting from inflammatory or infective processes. These scars may cause localized visual field defects, which can resemble glaucomatous visual field loss. So, option D mimics glaucomatous visual field loss.

Option E: None of the above

Since we know that options A, B, C, and D can mimic glaucomatous visual field loss, option E should not be considered as the correct answer.

Conclusion

Based on the explanations provided for each option, we can conclude that all of the mentioned conditions, except for option E (none of the above), can mimic glaucomatous visual field loss.