What Is a Visual Field Test?
When you look straight ahead, you still notice movement and objects off to the sides. That’s your visual field, or peripheral vision. A visual field test measures it, and it can find problems you may not notice on your own.
How the test works
You sit at the machine, rest your chin and look at a central target. Small lights appear in different spots, and you press a button each time you see one. One eye is tested at a time. It’s painless, nothing touches your eye, and it usually takes only a few minutes per eye.
Why it matters
- Glaucoma often damages side vision first, slowly and without pain. The visual field test helps find it and track whether treatment is working.
- Other conditions, such as some retina and nerve problems, can also show up as gaps in the visual field.
- Driving. Florida requires at least 130 degrees of horizontal field of vision for a driver license, and the test documents yours for the state’s vision form.
Tips for the best results
- Wear or bring your glasses or contacts.
- Keep your eye on the center target and don’t search for the lights.
- It’s normal to miss some lights. Just press when you see one.
Where to get one
Every Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists office inside Visionworks has a visual field machine. If you need one for your driver license vision form, walk in Monday through Saturday at any of our offices inside Visionworks.
Questions from former patients
What is a visual field test?
A test of your side (peripheral) vision. You look at a central target and press a button when you see small lights appear around it, one eye at a time.
Does a visual field test hurt?
No. Nothing touches your eye, and it usually takes a few minutes per eye.
Why do I need a visual field test?
It helps find and monitor glaucoma and other conditions that affect side vision, and it documents your field of vision for a Florida driver license form.