Hemianopsia, or hemianopia, is a loss of vision or blindness (anopsia) in half the visual field, usually on one side of the vertical midline. The most common causes of this damage are stroke, brain tumor, and trauma. This article deals only with permanent hemianopsia, and not with transitory or temporary hemianopsia, as identified by William Wollaston PRS in 1824. Temporary hemianopsia can occur in the aura phase of migraine. Etymology The word hemianopsia is from Greek origins, where: hemi means "half", an means "without", and opsia means "seeing". Types When the pathology involves both eyes, it is either homonymous or heteronymous. Homonymous hemianopsia A homonymous hemianopsia is the loss of half of the visual field on the same side in both eyes. The visual images that we see to the right side travel from both eyes to the left side of the brain, while the visual images we see to the left side in each eye travel to the right side of the brain. Therefore, damage to the right side of the posterior portion of the brain or right optic tract can cause a loss of the left field of view in both eyes. Likewise, damage to the left posterior brain or left optic radiation can cause a loss of the right field of vision. Heteronymous hemianopsia A heteronymous hemianopsia is the loss of half of the visual field on different sides in both eyes. It is separated into two categories: Binasal hemianopsia – the loss of the fields surrounding the nose; Bitemporal hemianopsia – the loss of the fields closest to the temples. Other forms Superior hemianopsia – the upper half of the field of vision is affected, possibly because of a tumor beginning to compress the lower part of the chiasma, typically one from the hypophysis. Inferior hemianopsia – the lower half of the field of vision is affected, possibly because of a tumor beginning to compress the upper part of the chiasma, typically a craniopharyngioma. Quadrantanopia Quadrantanopia (quadrantanopsia or quadrantic hemianopsia) is decreased vision or blindness in one quarter of the visual field. The particular quarter of vision missing depends on whether the location of the brain damage is temporal or parietal, and the side of the lesion. For example, a lesion to the right temporal lobe with damage specifically to Meyer's loop will give rise to a left upper (superior) quadrantanopsia, while a lesion to the