Residual neurovascular function and retinotopy in a case of hemianopia.

INTRODUCTION: For occipital cortex strokes resulting in vision disorders, questions about the viability of residual visual cortex remain.

CLINICAL PICTURE: In a patient with a one-year-old, left, complete, homonymous hemianopia due to a right, posterior cerebral artery, ischaemic infarct, we assessed the visual cortex with fMRI retinotopic mapping prior to starting vision restoration therapy.

OUTCOME: The patient was found to have residual neurovascular function and retinotopic representation in the surviving visual cortex around the infarcted area.

CONCLUSION: The ability to respond to stimuli in part of the blind field, though not consciously perceived, suggests the potential for recovery.