Visual pathway morphometry in visual field defects

PhD ceremony: Mr. A.T. Hernowo, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Visual pathway morphometry in visual field defects

Promotor(s): prof. J.M.M. Hooymans

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Humans benefit from a visual field that is almost 180° wide from both top to bottom and from side to side, even when the eyeball is not moving; this visual field thus allows humans to be constantly aware of their surrounding. Some eye diseases may reduce the visual field (causing visual field defect), for example macular degeneration and glaucoma. These diseases are currently clinically managed as eye diseases. However, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and automated measurement techniques, it was found that the brain regions that process vision have smaller size in individuals with those eye diseases. This proved that the brain, not just the eyes, can be adversely involved in certain eye diseases. Based on these studies, it is proposed that the brain should also be dealt with clinically in macular degeneration and glaucoma.