Scotoma (came from the Greek word for darkness: "skotos"): a "blind spot" or area of reduced vision surrounded by a normal visual field. i.e.: A person can see normally except where the scotoma is. Scotomas may affect one or both eyes. They can be either "absolute," where the person can see nothing within the scotoma, or "relative," where the person can see something within the scotoma, but less than usual.