When the left brain is not right the right brain may be left: report of personal experience of occipital hemianopia

OBJECTIVES: To make a personal report of a hemianopia due to an occipital infarct, sustained by a professor of neurology. METHODS: Verbatim observation of neurological phenomena recorded during the acute illness. RESULTS: Hemianopia, visual hallucinations, and non-occipital deficits without extraoccipital lesions on MRI, are described and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Hemianopia, due to an occipital infarct, without alexia, is not a disability which precludes a normal professional career. Neurorehabilitation has not been necessary.