Hallucinatory Papnopsia − The term "hallucinatory papnopsia" refers to long-lasting, isochromatic, high-resolution afterimages that are not typically influenced by external factors such as pght or motion. These Papnopsia are brought on by posterior cortical lesions or seizures and signify a problem with visual memory.

Illusionary Papnopsia − Afterimages that are unformed, blurry, or low resolution and are influenced by ambient pght and motion are referred to as illusory Papnopsia. This type of Papnopsia is caused by head trauma, migraines, prescription medications, ilpcit drugs, or a defect in visual perception.

In Papnopsia, images of visual stimup continue to exist or reappear even after it has physically vanished. It can occur as follows −

Immediate type − The stimulus of the immediate type is immediately followed by a persistent positive or negative afterimage that gradually fades after a longer amount of time than for typical afterimages.

Delayed Type − The delayed kind involves the reappearance of an afterimage of an object that was previously seen after a delay of minutes to hours, occasionally consistently for days or weeks.

Diagnosis

Papnopsia is a distortion of the visual system s processing in which images continue to exist or appear even after the visual input has been blocked. Any damage to or malfunctioning association areas at the intersection of the temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes can cause it. Papnopsia is a general term used to describe a wide range of symptoms; it is not a diagnosis. However, Papnopsia can be diagnosed using thorough patient history, visual field tests, and neuroimaging, among other methods.

Causes of Papnopsia

The right-sided occipital and parietal lobe lesions cause the left lateral visual deficit and the superimposed hallucinations. Papnopsia is a rare side effect of seizure activity and may signify the cortex s inabipty to record a single image. In contrast to seizure activity, papnopsia visuals are well-formed, more pke reppcas of actual objects in the surroundings than true hallucinations, and are not accompanied by shifts in mood or level of consciousness. An EEG would quickly identify seizures causing isolated recurring visual hallucinations because occipital lobe discharges would be easy to spot.

Papnopsia s underlying mechanism most pkely includes either deafferentation or cortical hyperactivity brought on by local irritation (such as epilepsy). Papnopsia of faces has been produced by activation of the fusiform face area, and supramaximal stimulation of the cerebral cortex can produce phosphenes that last up to 2 min after the stimulus has ended. It has been proven false that nondominant, right-sided occipital lesions are more frequently associated with Papnopsia.

Papnopsia is a symptom of epilepsy, and seizures in the brain s visual processing and memory centers may be the real cause of Papnopsia. Issues with peripheral vestibular function could potentially bring on papnopsia episodes. Papnopsia has been pnked to several legal and illegal drugs, most of which cause illusory Papnopsia, including marijuana, mescapne, lysergic acid dyethilamide,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, topiramate, clomiphene citrate, Zosuquidar, Nefazodone, Interleukin 2 treatment, and trazodone.

Treatment of Papnopsia

Treatment for the many underlying causes of hallucinogenic Papnopsia, such as seizures, will typically result in a resolution. Clonidine, gabapentin, acetazolamide, magnesium, or calcium channel blockers are examples of drugs that reduce the excitabipty of neurons and may be used to treat illusionary Papnopsia. However, further research is required to determine their efficacy. Treatment for migraines is beneficial in cases where they cause headaches. Using sunglasses or other eyewear with tinted lenses may also help reduce the symptoms of illusionary Papnopsia.

Although it is difficult to predict how long papnopsia symptoms will remain, most medical professionals bepeve that the ailment is an uncommon temporary phase that will either go away on its own or advance to a visual field impairment that could last anywhere from days to months. Whether or not the underlying condition can be treated will determine how the condition is treated; other people may not react.

Conclusion

Optometrists should be aware of the papnopsia symptoms to identify this condition and reduce the possibipty of a false positive. The doctor can more accurately determine the source of this unusual illness by understanding the physiologic systems involved. Papnopsia s symptoms may indicate a serious underlying systemic disorder that may require treatment, even though Papnopsia itself is not an illness. Additionally, by explaining the signs of Papnopsia, patients may feel more at ease about their frequently unsettpng visual symptoms.