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  • Will glasses correct distorted vision due to stroke?


    Question:

    My vision is out of focus after an occipital stroke. If I get new glasses will the damaged part of my brain continue to mess up my vision?


    Answer:

    Damage to the occipital lobe (vision center of the brain) can lead to permanent loss of peripheral (side) or central vision in both eyes. These areas where you do not see well are called visual field defects (or scotomas). Unfortunately, new glasses will not change your vision unless there is a new refractive error (such as myopia, or nearsightedness). Glasses only serve to focus images of the world on the retina and do not help or adjust what the brain (occipital lobe in this case) is able to do with the incoming visual information.