Scotoma
/skəˈtəʊ.mə/noun
A localized area of impaired or absent vision within an otherwise normal visual field.
Did you know?Ancient Greek σκότωμα referred to a darkening or dimness, while modern medicine uses scotoma for a precise “blind spot” in the visual field.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skotós
“Darkness or shadow; a reconstructed ancient root associated with obscurity.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκότος (skótos)
“Darkness, gloom, or obscurity.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκότωμα (skótōma)
“A darkening, dimness, or state of being obscured.”
17th Century
New Latin
scotoma
“A medical term for a visual area of darkness or diminished sight.”
Modern English
English
scotoma
“A blind or impaired spot within the field of vision.”