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Glite Dictionary
paracentral scotoma

paracentral scotoma

9.9
A small blind spot near but not at the center of vision that makes reading hard
  • noun
  • /ˌpærəˈsɛntrəl skəˈtoʊmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escotoma paracentral
  • The patient presented with a paracentral scotoma that made reading difficult.

Examples

  • Her visual test revealed a small paracentral scotoma near her line of sight.

  • Early glaucoma can cause a paracentral scotoma in the visual field.

  • The paracentral scotoma was found in her left eye.

  • Can a paracentral scotoma affect reading ability?

  • A paracentral scotoma can create blind spots that interfere with a person's everyday activities.

  • During the eye exam, the doctor noted a paracentral scotoma affecting her central vision.

  • Patients with a paracentral scotoma often report difficulty in focusing on objects directly in front of them.

Synonyms

blind spot
vsparacentral scotoma
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A small area in the eye where the optic nerve enters and you cannot see

denotes a visual field gap near the fixation point rather than retinal entry area
scotoma
vsparacentral scotoma
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A blind spot in your vision

is specifically located near but not at the fixation point

How Central

central scotoma
  • Specialized
9.3
paracentral scotoma
  • Specialized
9.9
scotoma
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Surface Forms

paracentral scotoma singular
paracentral scotomas plural

Morphology

paracentral + scotoma

The term is compositionally transparent: 'paracentral' means adjacent to the center and 'scotoma' denotes a localized loss/spot of vision, so the compound straightforwardly denotes a blind spot near the center of vision. Although clinical/technical, the meaning follows directly from the constituent parts and similar medical formations exist across languages, making it predictable for a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Paracentral scotoma comes from the words paracentral, meaning 'near the center', and scotoma, meaning 'blind spot'. Imagine a small dark patch right next to where you are looking that hides nearby letters or objects, so the term means a 'blind spot' close to, but not on, the 'center' of your vision.