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Glite Dictionary
flittering scotoma

flittering scotoma

9.9
A small area where your vision becomes weak with flickering coloured lights, often before a migraine
  • noun
  • /ˈflɪtərɪŋ skəˈtoʊmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escotoma centelleante
  • During her migraine attacks, she often experienced a flittering scotoma just before the headache began.

Examples

  • A flittering scotoma may last for several minutes and cause temporary impairment of vision.

  • I experienced a flittering scotoma before my migraine started.

  • Doctors asked if he saw a flittering scotoma before his other migraine symptoms appeared.

  • Have you ever had a flittering scotoma during a headache?

  • Before the migraine began, I noticed a flittering scotoma that blurred my vision.

  • If you see a flittering scotoma, it might be an early sign of an impending migraine.

  • Many migraine sufferers report experiencing a flittering scotoma along with brightly colored lights.

Synonyms

scotoma
vsflittering scotoma
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A blind spot in your vision

is more specific by adding shimmering light borders and migraine onset
scintillating scotoma
vsflittering scotoma
  • Specialized
9.9

A flashing bright shape that blocks part of your vision before a migraine

is the same but mentions colored flickering lights and often signals migraine

Surface Forms

flittering scotoma singular
flittering scotomas plural

Morphology

flitter + scotoma

This is a direct adjective + noun composition: 'flittering' (flickering, moving lightly) modifies 'scotoma' (a localized loss of vision), so the idea of a localized visual defect bordered by flickering lights is directly derivable from the constituents. Although 'scotoma' is a medical term, the semantic combination follows normal English modifier patterns and would be understandable to a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Flittering scotoma paints a clear picture: flittering suggests tiny, quick-moving lights like butterflies, and scotoma suggests a dark spot in your sight. So the name helps you remember it means 'a small, temporary blind spot surrounded by flickering lights', often seen before a migraine.