A visual field test measures how much 'side' vision you have. It is a straightforward test, painless, and does not involve eye drops. Essentially lights are flashed on, and you have to press a button whenever you see the light. Your head is kept still and you have to place your chin on a chin rest. The lights are bright or dim at different stages of the test. Some of the flashes are purely to check you are concentrating.
Each eye is tested separately and the entire test takes 4-8 minutes. We use a state of the art computerized instrument called a Humphrey Perimeter. This test can indicate retinal, optic nerve, or brain problems. Our optometrist can use it to evaluate for glaucoma, to detect certain types of ocular and brain tumors, optic nerve vascular occlusions, and many other diseases.
