Visual Field Screening

• What is "visual field screening"?
• Why is visual field screening important?
• Your optometrist is likely to advise visual field screening for:

What is "visual field screening"?

Visual field screening involves testing the nerve fibre sensitivity of the retina using a Humphrey Matrix computerised visual field analyser. This instrument allows a quick and easy "screening" process, if this shows areas with a statistically significant change in sensitivity an expanded and more detailed full threshold analysis will be done.

Why is visual field screening important?

Using the Humphrey Matrix we can look for changes in nerve fibre function that might indicate diseases such as glaucoma or neurological conditions. Changes in nerve fibre function can be very subtle and may indicate changes in the retina, optic nerve pathway or brain.

Your optometrist is likely to advise visual field screening for:

• To provide a base line for future reference
• Unexplained headaches
• Unexplained visual symptoms
• Poor refraction end point
• Reduced Vision
• Recent stroke
• Age related macula disease
• Glaucoma suspects
• A family history of glaucoma (grandparents, parents, blood relatives or siblings)

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