What is a Visual Field Test, and Why is it Important?

Why Would You Need a Visual Field Test?

A visual field test is essential for detecting and monitoring eye conditions, especially diseases like glaucoma. Glaucoma can cause peripheral vision loss in the early stages without noticeable symptoms. Regular testing helps your optometrist catch these changes early, allowing for timely treatment and better eye health management.

Beyond detecting eye conditions, these tests can reveal other underlying health concerns. Your retina, which lines the back of your eye, is directly 

connected to the optic nerve and brain. If the test detects abnormalities, it could indicate issues with your optic nerves or even neurological conditions.

These tests are designed to pinpoint specific vision problems and their potential causes. By getting tested regularly, your optometrist can monitor changes over time and determine if eye diseases or neurological conditions require attention.

What Can a Visual Field Test Detect?

A visual field test helps your optometrist determine if you have any blind spots, where they’re located, and their shape. This information is crucial for identifying how an eye condition or neurological issue may affect your vision.

In addition to detecting eye diseases, a visual field test can uncover problems with your eyelids, such as drooping (ptosis), that may interfere with your sight. Regular testing ensures any issues are caught early, allowing for the right treatment plan to keep your vision sharp.

Types of Visual Field Tests

There are several ways to check your field of vision. You’ll sit still during these tests while your eye doctor assesses what you can see. Here are some common types:

• Confrontation Test: Your doctor moves their fingers in your side vision while one eye is covered to check your peripheral awareness.
• Automated Perimetry: You press a button whenever you see flashing lights inside a specialized device. This helps map out any blind spots.
• Kinetic Perimetry: Similar to automated perimetry, but with moving lights instead of flashing ones.
• Electroretinography: Measures how your retina responds to light. Your pupils are dilated, and a tiny electrode is placed on your eye to track electrical activity.
• Frequency Doubling Perimetry: Uses flickering black-and-white bars to detect vision loss in certain areas.
• Amsler Grid: A simple at-home test where you focus on a dot in a grid to check for wavy or missing areas in your vision.

Your optometrist will choose the proper test based on your needs.

Why Take a Visual Field Test?

A visual field test checks how well you can see in all directions—above, below, and to the sides. It helps detect eye diseases, nerve damage, and brain conditions affecting your vision. The test is quick, usually taking about 5 to 10 minutes.

Specific vision issues can signal different health concerns:

• Same in both eyes: It may indicate a brain-related condition like a stroke.
• Affects one eye: This could be due to optic nerve damage or an eye disease.
• Uneven in both eyes: It might be linked to diabetes or glaucoma.

Who Should Get a Visual Field Test?

Regular testing is important if you have an eye condition or notice changes in your vision. Some health issues that can cause vision loss include:

• Glaucoma
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Brain tumours
• Macular degeneration

People with diabetes or high blood pressure should have regular eye exams to catch problems early. For those with healthy vision, routine eye exams help detect issues before symptoms appear.

Recommended eye exam frequency:

• 40–54 years old: Every 2–4 years
• 55–64 years old: Every 1–3 years
• 65+ years old: Every 1–2 years

Regular check-ups with an eye care professional at Abasa Optical in Surrey, BC, can help protect your vision and catch problems early.

Final Thoughts

A visual field test procedure is typically part of a routine eye exam and helps assess how well you can see in all directions. The results can identify specific types of vision loss and track conditions like glaucoma. There are different types of tests—some are manual, while others use computerized technology—all of which are non-invasive. Your eye care provider will use the results to determine if further testing or a specialist referral is needed. If you have glaucoma, regular procedures may be recommended to monitor changes over time. Book your eye exam with Abasa Optical to ensure your vision stays in check.