Bilateral Inferior Altitudinal Defects Secondary to Stroke: A Case Series

Abstract

Strokes or cerebrovascular accidents are the third leading cause of death in Canada, comprising 6% of all deaths in the country.1 The elderly and the very young (fetus or newborn infants) are at highest risk for having a stroke with an associated increased risk of death or lasting neurological disability.

According to the National Stroke Association recovery guidelines, 10% of stroke survivors will recover almost completely, 25% will recover with minor impairments, 40% will survive with moderate to severe impairments that require specialized care, 10% will require care in a long-term care facility, and 15% will die shortly after the stroke. The National Stroke Association estimates that there are 7 million people in the United States that have survived a stroke and are living with impairments. The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s 2013 Stroke Report has estimated that 315,000 Canadians are living with the effects of stroke. This case series serves as a reminder that, although rare, bilateral inferior altitudinal visual field defects can also occur as the result of a stroke, to highlight the difficulties of orientation and mobility that can result, and to offer potential rehabilitative strategies.