Question: What is Anton's syndrome? 


Answer:  

It's full nomenclature is Anton–Babinski syndrome. It is also called visual anosognosia. It is actually a type of stroke but may confuse staff as a delirium. Anatomically damage is in the occipital lobe, and patients are "cortically blind". Interestingly, patients affirm, that they are capable of seeing, despite clear examination proving blindness. They employ confabulation to fill in the missing sensory input. It is considered as one of the most complexed and poorly understood disease and probably due the fact that damage to the visual cortex results in the inability to communicate with the speech-language areas of the brain. Visual imagery is received but cannot be interpreted; the speech centers of the brain confabulate a response!!!

It is described after CVA, head injury and patients with JC virus.


References:

1. Riddoch G. Dissociation of visual perceptions due to occipital injuries, with especial reference to appreciation of movement. Brain. 1917;40:15–57

2. Misra M, Rath S, Mohanty AB. Anton syndrome and cortical blindness due to bilateral occipital infarction. Indian J Ophthalmol. 1989;37:196.

3. McDaniel KD, McDaniel LD. Anton's syndrome in a patient with posttraumatic optic neuropathy and bifrontal contusions. Arch Neurol. 1991;48:101–105