Every year at the end of October, the global community observes World Stroke Week, an international initiative aimed at raising awareness of one of the most serious public health problems.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in Ukraine and worldwide. Every year, thousands of Ukrainians face the life-changing consequences of stroke, affecting not only patients but also their families.

World Stroke Week ( October28–  November 3,2025) is an important opportunity to highlight that the effects of stroke often extend beyond movement and speech. Vision can also be significantly affected.

Following a stroke, patients may experience:

• Drop of  visual acuity
• Loss of part of the visual field
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Visual hallucinations, or difficulty in orientation.

 In some cases, visual symptoms may be among the first signs of impaired cerebral circulation.

At the SI "The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine", specialists use advanced diagnostic technologies to detect, assess, and monitor vision disorders after stroke.

• Ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography – to evaluate the condition of the retina and optic nerve.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) – for detailed assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer and the macula.
• Perimetry (visual field testing) – measurement of the visual field used to detect visual field defects resulting from damage to brain structures.
• Functional optic nerve testing – to assess the transmission of visual signals from the eye to the visual cortex.
• Computerised assessment of ocular and cerebral blood circulation – to detect abnormalities in blood flow affecting both the eye and the brain.

A comprehensive ophthalmic examination allows specialists not only to determine the extent of visual impairment but also to develop an individualised treatment and vision rehabilitation.

If you notice blurred vision, loss of part of your visual field, double vision, or any other visual changes after a stroke, do not delay seeking professional medical care.

The specialists at the SI "The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine" provide expert ophthalmic evaluation using modern diagnostic equipment and evidence-based approaches to the diagnosis and management of post-stroke vision disorders.