Differential Diagnosis for Bilateral Red Spots in Visual Fields
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Hypertension: This condition can cause retinal hemorrhages, which may appear as red spots in the visual fields. Hypertension is a common condition that can affect the blood vessels in the retina, leading to hemorrhages.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Diabetic Retinopathy: This complication of diabetes can cause retinal hemorrhages, hard exudates, and other lesions that may appear as red spots in the visual fields.
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): While AMD typically presents with distortion or blind spots, some forms can cause retinal hemorrhages that may be perceived as red spots.
- Retinal Vein Occlusion: This condition can cause retinal hemorrhages and ischemia, leading to visual field defects, including red spots.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: Although less common, this condition is an ocular emergency that requires prompt treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. It can cause sudden, painless loss of vision, and in some cases, may be preceded by transient visual disturbances, including red spots.
- Endogenous Endophthalmitis: This rare but potentially devastating condition is an intraocular infection that can cause severe vision loss. It may present with sudden onset of visual disturbances, including red spots, and requires immediate medical attention.
- Malignant Hypertension: This severe form of hypertension can cause rapid deterioration of vision due to retinal and choroidal damage, including hemorrhages that may appear as red spots in the visual fields.
Rare Diagnoses
- Sarcoidosis: This systemic granulomatous disease can affect the eyes, causing uveitis, retinal vasculitis, and other lesions that may appear as red spots in the visual fields.
- Lymphoma: Rarely, lymphoma can involve the eyes, causing retinal or choroidal lesions that may be perceived as red spots.
- Toxoplasmosis: This parasitic infection can cause retinochoroiditis, which may lead to visual field defects, including red spots, especially in immunocompromised individuals.