This will give the doctor a general idea of your peripheral vision, so they may use it as an initial diagnostic tool. It may also be helpful for smaller children who would have a harder time with a more focused test.
This test isn’t as precise as an automated test, but it can give the doctor a general idea of where you might be experiencing vision loss. It’s often used to detect the signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but it’s also sometimes used for children.
It’s totally okay to blink during the test, so don’t stress about keeping your eyes wide open the whole time. If you normally wear glasses, the technician will place a lens matching your prescription in front of your eye before the test starts. [4] X Research source Press and hold the response button to pause the test if you start to feel tired or you just need to take a break for a moment. When you let go of the button, the test will start again. [5] X Research source
The lights will vary in size and brightness. They’ll start in an area you can’t see, then gradually move into your field of vision. You’ll press a button to indicate when you see the light appear. [7] X Research source
You can wear your normal contacts or glasses for this test. Don’t worry if you don’t get it perfect—there’s a margin of error built into the test. [9] X Research source
In some tests, you may be given a contact lens to wear. The electrode will be embedded in the contact lens. This might sound a little scary, but because of the numbing drops, you shouldn’t feel anything! If you have any concerns, though, talk to your doctor.
For instance, if you have trouble with attention or you can’t sit for long periods of time, your doctor may administer a shorter test.
Your doctor might also recommend routine visual field tests if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis, hyperthyroidism, a disorder of the pituitary gland, problems with your central nervous system, or if you have had a stroke. A visual field test might also be used to determine if issues with your eyelids are blocking your vision.
Confrontation Field Test: Your doctor will determine if you have any loss of peripheral vision based on whether you can see their hand when they hold it up. Amsler Grid Test: If you indicate any blurry areas on the test, your doctor will know that you’re likely experiencing some vision loss in those areas. This test is often used to diagnose age-related macular degeneration (AMD). [13] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Opthamologists Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research Go to source Automated Tests (Goldmann, Kinetic, Frequency Doubling, Electroretinography): If you take an automated test, your doctor will get a print-out of the results. These results will show whether there were any areas where you were consistently unable to see the lights.
If you had trouble focusing during the test, your doctor may ask you to repeat it, as well. Some people mistakenly believe that their vision has improved because the results of their second test are better than the first. However, vision loss due to glaucoma is not reversible, so it’s likely just due to the testing curve.
If your vision loss is due to a cause like drooping eyelids, they may recommend a procedure called a blepharoplasty to correct it. [15] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Repeating the test will allow your eye doctor to check whether your vision has continued to deteriorate and whether your treatment is effective. In addition, there’s a learning curve with visual field tests, so your doctor may want to run a second test shortly after the first to establish an accurate baseline.
