Visual reactions in a case of long-lasting cortical blindness

A case is described of long-lasting cortical blindness in a 71 year old man showing no other visual reactions than pupillary narrowing to light and (only after some months) optokinetic nystagmus of the `passive' type. Necropsy demonstrated total bilateral destruction of the striate area of the cortex caused by bilateral softening in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery, and nearly total loss of ganglion cells in both lateral geniculate bodies.