scotoma

sco·to·ma  (sk-tm)

n. pl. sco·to·mas or sco·to·ma·ta (-m-t)

An area of diminished vision within the visual field.

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[New Latin scotma, from Late Latin, dim sight, from Greek skotma, dizziness, from skotoun, to darken, from skotos, darkness.]

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sco·toma·tous adj.

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scotoma [skɒˈtəʊmə]

n pl -mas, -mata [-mətə]

1. (Medicine / Pathology) Pathol a blind spot; a permanent or temporary area of depressed or absent vision caused by lesions of the visual system, viewing the sun directly (eclipse scotoma), squinting, etc.

2. (Psychology) Psychol a mental blind spot; inability to understand or perceive certain matters

[via Medieval Latin from Greek skotōma giddiness, from skotoun to make dark, from skotos darkness]

scotomatous  [skɒˈtɒmətəs] adj

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scotoma, scotomy

a blind spot or blind area in the field of vision.

See also: Blindness

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scotoma - an isolated area of diminished vision within the visual field vision defect, visual defect, visual disorder, visual impairment - impairment of the sense of sight annular scotoma - a circular scotoma surrounding the center of the field of vision central scotoma - a scotoma that involves the fixation point hemianopic scotoma - a scotoma involving half of the visual field paracentral scotoma - a scotoma that is adjacent to the fixation point flittering scotoma, scintillating scotoma - a localized area of diminished vision edged by shimmering colored lights; in many people it indicates the onset of migraine