Skotomaa

Skotomaa is a term that appears in some medical glossaries and casual references as a variant spelling of scotoma, the medical term for a localized loss or alteration of vision within the visual field. It is not widely recognized as a distinct clinical term, and many authoritative sources treat scotoma as the standard form. When encountered, skotomaa is typically considered a spelling variation or alternative transliteration rather than a separate condition.

A scotoma is a region within the visual field where vision is reduced or absent, surrounded by relatively normal vision. Scotomas can be absolute (no light perception) or relative (reduced sensitivity). They may be central (affecting the fovea or macula) or peripheral, and can be unilateral or bilateral, depending on the underlying cause and the affected structures of the visual pathway.

Causes are diverse and include retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, optic neuropathies like glaucoma or optic neuritis, neurological events such as strokes affecting the visual pathways, and migraines with aura. Scotomas result from localized damage to retinal cells, the optic nerve, or cortical processing of visual information.

Diagnosis relies on visual field testing, such as Humphrey or Goldman perimetry, complemented by imaging studies (for example, optical coherence tomography or MRI) to identify the underlying pathology. Management focuses on treating the root cause when possible; some scotomas persist and may be addressed with low-vision rehabilitation and adaptive strategies.

Etymology: scotoma derives from Greek skotos, meaning “darkness,” with the -oma suffix indicating a pathological condition. The form skotomaa appears infrequently and is generally regarded as a spelling variation rather than a separate term.