All You Should Know About Visual Field Testing

Eyes are the most delicate and vital sense organ. Once we visualize things, it is easier to perceive them. Here comes the utility of the eyes in comparison to other sense organs. Eyes are the most developed sense organ, and a larger portion of the brain is dedicated to vision than for taste, touch, or for hearing.

Such delicate sense organs are prone to various ailments. The damage to vision can be due to trauma to the eyes or because of the brain cells being damaged. Often many brain disorders can lead to peripheral loss of vision and other visual abnormalities. You can visit an optometrist near you to get your vision checked.

How Visual Field Testing Helps Identify Eye Issues

Visual field tests are a subjective measure to determine your peripheral and central vision. In certain cases, this test may be undertaken by your optometrist to determine the severity and also to monitor your glaucoma. Even eye care professionals can use the visual field test to detect blind spots.

The shape and size of the blind spot or scotoma can guide the optometrist to determine the severity or presence of eye disease. This test can detect damage to the optic nerves by glaucoma. Apart from glaucoma, diseases of the retina, brain tumors, stroke, or optic neuropathy can be determined through this test.

The other uses of this special test include testing for malingering behavior and detecting the toxicity of certain medications that can affect the retina.

Types of Visual Field Test

The common way for the optometrist to determine visual impairments is through a visual field test. Experienced optometrists can do visual Field Testing in North York. The various types of optical field test include:

#1: Confrontation Test

The optometrist would direct you to look straight ahead. The doctor might place a moving or stationary visual target in your peripheral vision fields. While you maintain a straight-ahead vision, you enable the optometrist to diagnose your defects in peripheral vision. The eye specialist often uses a small disc or stick, but most commonly, the doctor uses fingers.

#2: Static Automated Perimetry

Also termed as Humphrey Field Analyzer or Octopus, this test involves projecting of pinpoint flashes of light. The light might be of varying brightness and size that are projected within a large white bowl. The optometrist might direct you to look at the center of the bowl and to press a button each time you are able to perceive light in your peripheral vision.

#3: Amsler Grid

In this diagnosis, you are subjected to a printed image of a grid that has a dot in its center. The optometrist might dictate you to look at the dot, with a singular eye at a time, and report whether the lines adjacent to the dot appear distorted or faded. Generally, the Amsler Grid test is performed to determine defects of the central visual field.

#4: The Kinetic Perimetry

As the name suggests, this test involves moving visuals. Moving lights of different intensity and size are made visible to the patient and are asked to indicate when the same is visible in their peripheral vision.

#5: Frequency Doubling Perimetry

The varying intensities of a flickering image are employed to determine the weakness in the visual field of the patient. The frequency doubling perimetry test finds application to diagnose glaucoma.

Who Need Visual Field Testing?

An important part of regular eye testing for those who are in the risk of vision loss is the optical field testing. People suffering from these conditions should undergo regular tests and undergo strict monitoring by optometrists:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Glaucoma
• Stroke
• Pituitary Gland Disorder

People suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes are in risk of developing blocked blood vessels in the retina or the optic nerves. This phenomenon can affect the vision adversely. Yorkdale Eyecare is the place where you can get the best treatment.

With over fifteen years of experience in personalized eyecare, we at Yorkdale Eyecare are dedicated to serving you better. With the incorporation of advanced technology and service-oriented approach, our staffs are experienced, exceptionally caring, and compassionate.

Whether you need an optometrist near you, our team is ready to provide the care and treatment at your convenient time.