Neuro-Ophthalmology

UI Health Care neuro-ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems related to optic neuritis, migraines, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and more.

Request an Appointment

For Neuro-Ophthalmology related requests call: :

1-319-356-2852

For Neurology related requests:: 1-319-356-2572

If you have a vision problem caused by a brain-related issue, such as a stroke, migraines, or a tumor, you need the expertise of a neuro-ophthalmologist.

There are fewer than 500 of these highly specialized physicians in the United States. University of Iowa Health Care is home to the only neuro-ophthalmology team in the state.

Our board-certified, fellowship-trained experts have deep experience in diagnosing and treating vision disorders that arise from the nervous system.

And they collaborate closely with UI Health Care's other experts in neurology, neuroimmunology, neurosurgery, neuroimaging, and other fields to identify your problem and create a customized treatment plan for you.

Iowa's only neuro-ophthalmology specialists

Neuro-ophthalmology is a subspecialty of both neurology and ophthalmology. It requires intensive training and expertise in conditions that affect the eye and brain, as well as the nerves and muscles that connect them.

Our team treats vision problems such as double vision, trouble focusing your eyes, and partial vision loss.

For more than 80 years, UI Health Care neuro-ophthalmology experts have led the field. And because they are also accomplished researchers, you may have access to clinical trials of new treatment options not available elsewhere.

The expertise of the entire UI Health Care team

Conditions that need neuro-ophthalmology expertise can be rare or difficult to diagnose. Our neuro-ophthalmologists work closely with other UI Health Care experts to make sure you get the right diagnosis and treatment.

You'll have a complete eye exam, including specialized testing. A neurologic exam will test your strength, sensation, and coordination. You may also have brain imaging using our state-of-the-art equipment.

After your thorough evaluation, your neuro-ophthalmologist may consult with specialists in related fields such as neurosurgery and neuroradiology. They're all part of the UI Health Care team of experts, and all contribute their knowledge to your case.

Neuro-ophthalmology tests and treatments

Automated (computerized) perimetry
Computer-controlled infrared sensitive pupillography
Computer-controlled pupil perimetry
Computer recording of eye movements
Critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF)
Electroretinography
Eye exercises
Eyeglasses
Eye surgery

Frequency-doubling perimetry
Infrared video pupillography
Ishihara color vision test cards
Kinetic (Goldmann) perimetry
Medications
Multifocal electroretinogram (MERG)
Multifocal visual-evoked potentials (MVEP)
Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
Regular ERG (electroretinogram)

There are a number of special tests that our Neuro-Ophthalmologists perform at UI Health Care. Learn more about each of these special tests.

Neuro-ophthalmology tests

Kinetic (Goldmann) perimetry ('perimetry' is the quantitative testing of the side vision). These 'visual fields' are done manually by experienced perimetrists. We often use this kind of perimetry at the first visit when we need to understand the nature of the problem.
Automated (computerized) perimetry In this test, spots of light are automatically projected into predetermined areas of the visual field. The test continues until the dimmest light is found that can be seen in each area of the side vision. These visual field tests provide us with important information.
Frequency-Doubling Perimetry is a new visual field test that is performed to screen patients for visual loss. It only takes about 5 minutes per eye with the hope that this quick test will give us the answer in certain kinds of conditions.
Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency. (CFF) Patients view a flickering light to test the ability of the optic nerve to conduct impulses with uniform speed. This test has proven to be very useful in identifying visual loss due to optic nerve damage.
Infra-red video pupillography. This is a way of seeing the pupils clearly in the dark so that a more certain diagnosis can be made. We also use it to transilluminate the iris to identify local iris causes for pupillary abnormalities.
Electroretinography. A regular ERG (eletroretinogram) records the electrical activity of the whole retina in response to light and helps to tell us if the rods and cones of the retina are firing in the way they are supposed to.
The Multi-focal ERG (MERG) does about a hundred ERGs at once by illuminating various little bits of the retina sequentially. It uses a computer to sort out the dizzying torrent of information and then it presents us with a map of the sensitivity of various parts of the retina, based on the electrical activity (in response to light) of all those different regions. If this map matches the map we got from perimetry then the problem is in the retina and not in the optic nerve or brain.
Multi-focal Visual-Evoked Potentials (MVEP). Using a MERG stimulus, information can be picked up from the scalp that tells us if the visual pathways in the brain are damaged.
Computer controlled infra-red sensitive pupillography is used to monitor pupillary movements in response to different types of light in order to quantify how much damage there might be in the visual system.
Computer controlled "Pupil" Perimetry uses the pupil movement in response to small lights presented in the field of vision as an objective indicator of how well the eye sees the light.
Computer recording of eye movements. This instrument can be used for monitoring pupil movements and it also has the capacity to record the small movements of both eyes at the same time to see if they are tracking together and have normal movements in different directions of gaze.
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This is a new device that looks at the retina at the back of the eye and measures the thickness of the layer of nerves coming from all quadrants of the retina and leading into the optic nerve. This nerve fiber layer may be thickened, thinned or normal, depending on the nature of the disease affecting the optic nerve. Optical Coherence Tomography has become a very important test to help us to understand the extent and the reversibility of optic nerve damage.
Ishihara Color Vision Test Cards. Used for color vision evaluation. A test chart on color dots that appear as identifiable numbers or patterns to individuals who have various types of color vision defects.