Guttae (medical)

Gutta Serena is a historical term used in medicine to describe a condition of painless loss of vision, particularly in patients who have a normal appearance of the eye and optic nerve. The term is derived from the Latin words 'gutta', meaning 'drop', and 'serena', meaning 'clear' or 'serene'. It was commonly used in the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, but has since fallen out of use in modern medical terminology.

History

The term 'gutta serena' was first used in the Middle Ages by physicians to describe a condition where the patient suffered from a loss of vision without any apparent physical cause. The condition was named 'gutta serena' because the eyes of the patients remained clear and serene, without any visible signs of disease or injury.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

The primary symptom of gutta serena is a sudden or gradual loss of vision. The condition is characterized by the absence of pain and the normal appearance of the eye and optic nerve. Diagnosis of gutta serena was primarily based on these symptoms, as there were no advanced diagnostic tools available during the Middle Ages and Renaissance period.

Modern Understanding

In modern medicine, the symptoms described by the term 'gutta serena' are now understood to be caused by a variety of different conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and optic neuropathy. These conditions can cause damage to the optic nerve or the retina, leading to a loss of vision. Modern diagnostic tools, such as optical coherence tomography and visual field testing, are now used to diagnose these conditions.

See Also

• History of medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Optic neuropathy
• Glaucoma
• Macular degeneration