Specialized Testing: Visual Fields

This is a full test of your peripheral vision. It involves placing your head in a bowl-like instrument that demonstrates pinpoint light targets in your peripheral for you to detect and respond to with a clicker button. It is usually done to assess the integrity of the retina, the optic nerve, and the visual pathway.

Visual field testing is usually performed as extra testing for those patients who:

  • Have glaucoma, or are determined as having potential risk factors for glaucoma.
  • Are showing neurological concerns (stroke, MS, brain tumor, etc.).
  • To rule out neurological involvement with vision loss or headaches.
  • Who need confirmation of peripheral vision status for a drivers medical.
  • Who are taking certain medications (ex: Plaquenil).