Visual field

Visual Field

Visual field is the full area you can see when your eyes are fixed on one point, including what’s straight ahead and what’s off to the sides. It includes central vision—the small area you use for reading and recognizing faces—and peripheral vision, which helps you notice movement and navigate around obstacles. Measured in degrees around a central point, the visual field varies from person to person and can change with age or eye conditions. Doctors check it because changes in the visual field often reveal problems with the eyes, optic nerve, or brain that might not be obvious from looking at the eye alone. Common problems include dim or blank spots called scotomas, loss of side vision that makes your world feel tunnel-like, and halves missing from one side, which can happen after a stroke. Testing can be as simple as a basic confrontation check or as detailed as automated exams that map exactly which areas are seen or missed. The results help eye care professionals diagnose conditions, track progression, and decide whether treatments are working. A shrinking visual field affects everyday life: it makes driving, walking in busy places, and reading harder, and it can increase the risk of falls. Knowing about changes early gives you the best chance to protect remaining vision through medical care, lifestyle steps, and low-vision aids. Rehabilitation options, such as orientation training and special lenses or devices, can help people adapt and stay independent when changes are permanent.