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Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology pp 1–2Cite as

Macropsia

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Synonyms

Megalopia

Definition

Macropsia is a disorder of visual perception in which a portion of the vision appears larger than normal. Compression of retinal photoreceptors can cause greater stimulation of retinal elements and the resulting perception of macropsia. Macropsia is a type of dysmetropsia (visual illusion).

Etiology

Macropsia usually results from retinal conditions (e.g., epiretinal membrane and macular edema) but can be due to cortical processing defects when bilateral or hemianopic.

Diagnostics

A complete eye exam and an Amsler grid can document the laterality, location, size, and severity of macropsia. A New Aniseikonia Test (NAT) can also be used to detect and quantify the degree of macropsia effect. Brain imaging or EEG may be necessary for patients with cortical macropsia especially if bilateral, simultaneous, or hemianopic.

Therapy

Treatment should be directed at the underlying etiology.

Cross-References

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Further Reading

  • De Wit G, Muraki C (2006) Field-dependent aniseikonia associated with an epiretinal membrane a case study. Ophthalmology 13:58–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enoch J, Schwartz A, Chang D, Hirose H (1995) Aniseikonia, metamorphopsia and perceived entoptic pattern: some effects of a macular epiretinal membrane, and the subsequent spontaneous separation of the membrane. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 15:339–343

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lipsanen T, Lauerma H, Peltola P, Kallio S (1999) Visual distortions and dissociation. J Nerv Ment Dis 187(2):109–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6560 Fannin Street, Scurlock 450, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Sumayya J. Almarzouqi, Michael L. Morgan & Andrew G. Lee

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  4. Departments of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Jonathan Kim, Michael L. Morgan & Andrew G. Lee

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

Authors
  1. Jonathan Kim
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  2. Sumayya J. Almarzouqi
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  3. Michael L. Morgan
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  4. Andrew G. Lee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew G. Lee .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Medical University of Wien Dept of Ophthal & Optometry,AKH, Wien, Austria

    Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Thomas Kohnen

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© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg (outside the USA)

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Cite this entry

Kim, J., Almarzouqi, S.J., Morgan, M.L., Lee, A.G. (2015). Macropsia. In: Schmidt-Erfurth, U., Kohnen, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Ophthalmology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1276-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35951-4_1276-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35951-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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