A Visual Field Test

is a method of detecting central or peripheral retinal diseases, eyelid conditions, optic nerve disease, and diseases affecting the visual pathways within the brain.

What is a visual field test?

An important part of a medical eye exam is the use of a visual field test also known as perimetry, which detects decreases in peripheral vision or central vision that are usually not noticed by the patient.

The most common use of visual field testing is to detect any signs of optic nerve damage caused by glaucoma. Visual field tests can also detect retinal diseases, eyelid diseases such as ptosis or drooping, optic nerve diseases such as optic neuritis, and brain diseases affecting visual pathways. Vision is processed in the brain by the visual pathways that transport information from the front of the eye.

How is visual field testing done?

Visual fields can be measured using a variety of methods. One eye is typically tested at a time during visual field testing. In all tests, the patient must fixate on a central target. If you require glasses correction, you will be seated in front of the machine by a technician and appropriate lenses will be used. When the technician performs the test, they will make sure you are looking straight ahead at the fixation light, that your upper eyelid is not blocking your vision, and that your head is not too shifted.

What conditions does a visual field test diagnose?

A visual field test is an extremely important part of a comprehensive eye examination and is performed for a wide variety of conditions. When patients schedule a medical eye exam at our Hixson optometry clinic we often run a visual field test using our state of the art equipment.

Visual field testing is useful for:

Screening for glaucoma
Testing patients with glaucoma for treatment response
Screening and testing for lid droop or ptosis, particularly for insurance approval of lid lift surgical procedures
Determining whether you have blind spots in your vision (called scotomas) and where they are. The size and shape of a scotoma can indicate the type of eye disease or brain disorder affecting your vision.
Testing for diseases that impact the macula such as macular degeneration
Identifying potential toxicity from certain medications such as Plaquenil used for rheumatoid arthritis
Testing for peripheral retinal disease such as retinal detachment or retinitis pigmentosa
Testing the function of the optic nerve looking for tumor, injury, poor circulation or stroke, compression from swelling in the eye socket or orbit, or severe dietary deficiency
Testing the visual pathways to the brain, looking for tumor, brain swelling, injury, or poor circulation
Testing the visual or occipital cortex, looking for tumor, injury, brain swelling, or poor circulation.
Identifying the impact of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other neurological conditions on the visual system
Measuring the capacity of the brain to process visual information and project the image accurately into space.
An assessment of how much space the patient is able to process and interact with at any one time.

Diabetes or diabetic retinopathy

Glaucoma

Retinal Detachment

Age Related Macular Degeneration

What are the different types of visual field tests?

Electroretinography
Amsler grid: A basic visual field test for central vision
Confrontation visual field test
Automated static perimetry test
Kinetic or functional visual field test
Frequency doubling perimetry

How long should a visual field test last?

In general a visual field test takes a few minutes, however there are a variety of tests that depend on different factors such as the presence of a known condition, the ability to maintain concentration, and the goals of the eye doctor for the use of the test.
The length of the test may depend on the patient's ability to sustain concentration for extended periods of time. A longer visual field test is advised if the patient can tolerate it, whereas if the patient has trouble concentrating for five minutes but can manage two minutes, a shorter test would be best for them.
In case you are already suffering from vision loss or your vision is rapidly deteriorating, then our eye doctors will need to have the most accurate information possible. This would require a longer test to obtain more accurate information. On the other hand, if you have a very early loss of vision, a shorter test might be sufficient.
If you have early glaucoma or suspect that you have glaucoma, then again a shorter test might be sufficient for you. A standard visual field test might be more appropriate if you have more severe glaucoma and are older. Such patients should not be tested for a shorter period of time as that might produce abnormal results.

Why you should ensure that a visual field test is part of your eye exam

The visual field test is extremely valuable in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of a wide range of ocular diseases that impact our central, peripheral, and functional vision. Our eye doctors can detect early signs of ocular diseases using a visual field, measure the progression of the disease objectively, and determine how your disease is impacting your vision. Having a visual field test done by our eye doctors enables them to provide you with appropriate treatment or tools to improve your visual function and manage or treat your condition. Call us today at (423) 710 3965 to schedule a visual field and medical eye exam. Patients with visual field loss and central vision deficits visit our clinic from all over Tennessee, and we are proud to be a leading provider of visual field testing for patients from Hixson, Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Middle Valley.

Testimonials

Vision therapy is well worth the response, time and effort. Our Son had a hard time focusing and writing neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time if previously took. His abilities to focus improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent, we wanted learning to be fun for our Son, and vision therapy made this possible.

Amanda T.

Vision Therapy is well worth the expense, time and effort. Our son had a hard time focusing handwriting neatly. After vision therapy Seth could complete a task in half the time it previously took his abilities to focus and improved greatly and so did his handwriting.

Also, he was better at listening. As a parent you wanted learning to be fun for our son and vision therapy made this possible.

Alexa H.

Vision Therapy has given or son the tools he needs to be able to scan and read the written word more effectively and efficiently.

He love working with John and these working sessions give him the motivation to gladly work on his homework assignments.

It amazed us to see the difference in the tracking of his eyes and along a line of it's from the beginning to the end of the treatment.

Dr. McBryar , Kristen and John are all marvelous and we would recommend them to anyone I only wish that we would have found them sooner!

Charlotte M.

Prior to coming to the institute for vision development my son complained of daily headaches. Therapy has eliminated his headaches completely. I love knowing my son is able to learn pain-free for the rest of his life because of the work that has been done over just a few weeks in this office. He he absolutely loved coming that didn't even feel like going to a doctor or therapy. We are grateful for the relief he was able to find by coming here.

Thank you!

Olivia C.

Seems much less frustrated with life

Reads non-stop and fast

Spelling abilities have been hugely improved

Seems much more confident

Thank You!!!

Kelly O.

When we first came to the practice, my son did not have huge issues, but lots of small ones- trouble with reading, sports (hitting the baseball consistently), coordination, etc- that were not easily detectable,but when put together presented issues. The staff here were all very professional and loving towards him. While I was concerned in the reading, my son was concerned with the athletic side. Seeing improvement night off the bat gave him confidence that i have nor seen in him and made him want to not only Come to therapy, but also made him want to work hard. He has surpassed his grade level and above in reading and hit his first home run this year! Thank you!!!