Losing the Top or Bottom Half of Your Vision Can Be a Sign of a Brain Tumor
Original title: Altitudinal Visual Field Defect as the Presenting Sign of a Brain Tumor: A Case Report.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This was seen in one patient, and it is not a treatment.
The short version
Sometimes the first sign of a brain tumor is losing the top or bottom half of what you see.
What was studied. This report is about one patient's case. The doctors describe a brain tumor whose first sign was a loss of the top or bottom half of the patient's vision.
What they found. Brain tumors cause different signs. This depends on the tumor's type, where it is, and how far along it is. When brain tumors affect sight, most cause vision loss on the left or right side. A tumor that presses on the eye's nerve can instead cause loss in the top or bottom half. This can look like a different problem, where the eye nerve does not get enough blood.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: If you lose the top or bottom half of your vision, a brain tumor is one possible cause. The authors say doctors should keep brain tumors in mind in this case. Finding a tumor early may help people do better.
What it doesn't mean: This is one patient's story, not a study of many people. It does not mean that vision loss like this is usually caused by a tumor. It is not a new treatment, and it is not a cure. It is a reminder for doctors about what to look for.
Source: PubMed, September 9, 2026 · Read the original
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