Diagnosis

At first, people with PCA might think they have something wrong with their eyes and visit their optician. The optician may find that they have perfectly healthy eyes, or people could wrongly be given glasses that do not help them. This is because PCA damages the brain and not the eyes directly.

If you are worried about yourself or someone else who is showing signs of PCA, it is best to talk to your doctor. They will carry out tests to find out what is causing the symptoms. These tests include:

• Questions about your symptoms and medical history.
• Speaking to your partner or someone close to you about the problems you are having.
• A physical check-up.
• A blood test to look for any underlying infections, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, or other conditions that could be causing the symptoms.

If your doctor suspects PCA or another form of dementia, they may send you to a specialist clinic for further tests. These may include:

• Tests to work out how your brain processes the information it receives from your eyes.
• Memory and thinking skills tests.
• Brain scans to look for damage or loss of cells. This can be an MRI or CT scan and can also show if there are any signs of a stroke or brain tumour.
• A lumbar puncture that involves taking a sample of fluid from the bottom of your spine. This test can help to identify abnormal levels of proteins linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s in the brain.
• An EEG test that involves electrodes being placed on the head to look at how your brain cells communicate. This does not hurt at all and takes about 20 minutes.

The results of all these tests will help a doctor to decide the likely cause of your symptoms and determine what type of dementia a person may have.