Why Do I Need a Visual Fields Test?
I went to visit my eye doctor a few weeks ago and he suggested that I get a Visual Field Test (VFT) as a part of my eye exam. He mentioned there was a bit of an extra charge for it, but that I should go ahead and get it done because it was an important part of monitoring my eye health.
So, I wondered…
What exactly is a Visual Field Test and why do I need one?
I decided to do a little research by talking to my optometrist after the exam. Here’s what I found out.
A visual field test is used to measure the function of your retina to light sensitivity. If you tell your optometrist that you are having headaches or if you have any diagnosed physical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart issues, then this test is especially important. The VFT is the best way to detect, often early, vision problems like diabetic retinopathy, brain tumors, glaucoma, retinal detachments, and even hypertension.
With my family history of diabetes, my doctor thought it was important for us to include the test as an extra way to make sure that this disease isn’t sneaking up on me.
The way the Visual Field Test works is the doctor or technician is able to assess the patient’s “fields” of vision by placing something in the center of their visual field and then asking them about other objects placed in the periphery or asking about how that central object appears. Some doctors do this test by having patients cover one eye and stare at a screen. Other offices have a machine that will test the patient and then print out the results.
In the case where a machine is used to test the patient, you may also hear this part of the exam referred to as a perimetry test, a Tangent screen exam, the Goldmann visual field exam, or the Humphrey field exam. But in every test, the objective is the same. The patient is asked to follow a light, or recognize objects or dots of light as they move in and out of their field of vision.
This test is also a great way for your optometrist to find out if you have developed any blind spots, which is an early indicator of age-related macular degeneration.
If you have questions about the Visual Field Test portion of your eye exam, be sure to ask your optometrist at your closest America’s Best retailer.
