Visual problems in Parkinson's disease: A questionnaire survey

Article type: Research Article

Authors: McDowell, Sally-Ann | Harris, John P.^;

Affiliations: Department of Psychology, The University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, UK

Note: [] Correspondence to: John P. Harris at above address

Abstract: A questionnaire was completed by 53 putative sufferers from Parkinson's disease and 31 putative age-matched normal controls. The aim of the questionnaire was to elicit reports of any changes in visual perception. The incidence of self-reported Parkinsonian symptoms was very much higher in the patient group than in the controls. The patients reported significantly more problems with depth and motion perception than the controls. They also reported a significantly higher incidence of hallucinations, double vision and the need to turn the head to see objects in the periphery. However, the reported incidence of changes in brightness, colour, shape and size perception was not significantly different in the two groups. The results are discussed with reference to laboratory studies of Parkinsonian vision and to the likely neurological basis of some of the changes.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Questionnaires, Vision

DOI: 10.3233/BEN-1997-102-305

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 10, no. 2-3, pp. 77-81, 1997