Image: Scintillating scotoma

Description: An interpretation of what is believed to have been a form of scintillating scotoma, experienced by the author in June 2011. It is to be looked on at the center of the image. The aura was shaped like a spiral starting in the center of the vision field, passing over upper left quadrant and reaching limit of vision field at lower left border. The scintillations of the aura had some resemblance to a Widmanstätten pattern, and made it relatively easy to make out the borders of the aura, which were relatively well demarcated from normal areas. It was impossible to distinguish any shapes within the aura, but, similarly to the physiological blind spot, it melted into the background with the overall coloring appearing to represent that of the target objects in the environment. No obvious zigzag pattern was seen. Onset was over a few minutes and it faded away (rather than decreased in area) over approximately 30 minutes. It was succeeded by no or negligible headache. Scotomas had been experienced before at frequencies of approximately one to two times per year, and of similar duration, but not with as clearly demarcated scintillating areas as on this occasion. A previous brain CT-scan was normal.
Title: Scintillating scotoma
Credit: Own work Original photo without aura.
Author: Mikael Häggström. When using this image in external works, it may be cited as: Häggström, Mikael. "Medical gallery of Mikael Häggström 2014". WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.008. ISSN 20018762. Public Domain. or By Mikael Häggström, used with permission.
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication
License: CC0
License Link: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
Attribution Required?: No