näkökenttäaukot

Näkökenttäaukot are blind spots within an individual's visual field. These areas are characterized by an inability to perceive light or objects. The most common and well-known näkökenttäaukko is the physiological blind spot, also known as the optic disc. This blind spot exists in each eye because it is the location where the optic nerve fibers exit the retina to connect with the brain. There are no photoreceptor cells (rods or cones) in this area, rendering it insensitive to light.

The brain compensates for this physiological blind spot by filling in the missing information with visual data from the surrounding areas of the retina and from the other eye. This is why most people are not consciously aware of their physiological blind spots during everyday activities.

However, näkökenttäaukot can also be indicative of pathological conditions affecting the eye or visual pathways. Glaucoma, for instance, can cause progressive damage to the optic nerve, leading to the development of new blind spots or the enlargement of existing ones. Other conditions such as retinal detachment, optic neuritis, or lesions in the visual cortex of the brain can also manifest as näkökenttäaukot.

Symptoms of pathological näkökenttäaukot can vary depending on the cause and location. They might be perceived as dark or blurry areas, missing parts of vision, or difficulty seeing in certain directions. Detecting and monitoring näkökenttäaukot is an important part of comprehensive eye examinations, as they can provide crucial information about the health of the visual system.