Symptoms

Vision

• Things may appear to have an unusual colour, appear distorted or look like they are moving around.
• Objects become less recognisable. People may struggle to recognise objects out of the corner of their eye or might see many different objects close together as one object.
• Surfaces and depth can look different. For example, a black object or puddle may look like a hole in the floor, or it may be difficult to find and reach for a door handle.
• People may still see an image of an object after looking away, or not be able to see more than one object at a time.
• People may not always be able to see what is right in front of them and may bump into things.

People with PCA also have problems with:

• Reading Losing their place on a page, missing out lines, letters jumbling up or finding it hard to read certain fonts and handwriting. This can also affect everyday tasks like putting in a PIN on a cash machine.
• Judging distances and depths Crossing roads and using escalators or stairs can become difficult. This can also be difficult if there are lots of shadows, lights or patterns. A person may reach out to grasp an object but miss it.
• Spatial awareness Some people may struggle with their sense of direction and terms like ‘left’ and ‘right’ may be harder to follow.
• Recognition Problems recognising objects or faces, especially when they are not in plain sight. People may experience problems reading clocks or signs, especially digital clocks or screens.
• Light sensitivity Finding bright light uncomfortable, including glare from shiny surfaces. People may have unusual colour experiences such as seeing patches of colour when it is dark.
• Coordination Problems with dressing, for example, having difficulty using buttons or zips, locating the sleeves of a jacket while dressing, or putting clothes on back to front. Objects like kitchen utensils and remote controls may become difficult to use.
• Literacy Finding spelling and writing hard. People can find it difficult to remember the shape or name of certain letters.
• Numeracy Problems with simple calculations and dealing with money such as small change.
• Mood Some people become low in mood, irritable or anxious, or may lose interest in things.