Why Peripheral Vision and The Visual Performance Field Test is Important:

Taking traditional Confrontations a step further, Field and Blind Spot Documentation is a very important evaluative element where Attention Deficit is suspected, and in cases where Behavior and Learning Disorders are present. 

Small peripheral vision fields may be a clue to why some attention deficit disorder diagnosed individuals "visually scan"..."touch everything"...and continually move about: they may have poor or constricted peripheral awareness and are attempting to make up for it with other space sensing methods.

The Visual Analysis has been practiced since 1928 in various sequences and has given the central retinal or foveal areas predominance over the peripheral retinal. "20/20 acuity" was the conclusive purpose.

The absolute necessity of the retina's periphery for vision is not usually considered for the application of lenses or for its importance in visual awareness.  While little visual testing is done today in this area except for health and binocular control, recognition of importance is growing.

To observe and study basic kinetic testing of the periphery in the analytical, a simple "out in the open" field instrument was constructed.

Typical patterns presented were measured and divided into three general groups: those with full awareness fields down to only central sight.

The different levels were correlated with the same patients' motor and cognitive activities and it was noted that the field charting record showed a visual reason why patients responded the way they did to their environmental survival demands.

The instrument used is not visually constricting. No lenses are involved and no complex instructional set is used. Hundreds of tests were conducted in the office and in schools. The evaluation of these has revealed an correlation of constricted fields with performance and behavioral difficulties observed by parents and teachers.

The comparison schedule patterns have been drawn, by averaging each group as a single pattern to be used for comparison of the patient. Charting can also be duplicated for verification following lenses application, visual training therapy, home activities, or light/phototherapy training. The patterns accurately show the results of the remedial method.

It is interesting to note that no central foveal area is used in the field charting test except for looking at (keeping attention on) the central attention point on the chart paper itself. Everything else charted is the patient's awareness derived from kinetic stimulus in the periphery.

It is important to note: "out of periphery comes centering and details of sight", and "out of side vision comes central sight" because the foveal central areas of the retina do not proliferate until 6 weeks after birth or until the peripheral retina is actively firing.

Developmentally, the basis of our awareness of learned space and related objects comes from peripheral stimulation first, not the central foveal areas. Periphery is of a much greater value/need in survival through life than the central areas. Note: A person who has central retinal deterioration and/or poor acuity can live a useful life, where a person with only central sight is almost helpless, and in fact, can hardly walk without guidance.

Periphery is vision's dominant trigger. Periphery sensitivity creates our awareness, and the feedback through the motor system creates the basis from which to learn "where I am", "where it is", "how far?","how big?", "will I get there before it does?" "will I eat it?", "will it eat me?" This is survival vision. To incorporate this simple and useful test into the battery of other probes of a patients visual condition extends knowledge of vision and beneficial care.

This may be a clue to why some attention deficit disorder diagnosed individuals "visually scan"..."touch everything"...and continually move about: these individuals may have poor or constricted peripheral awareness and are attempting to make up for it with other space sensing methods.

When unusually small fields are demonstrated on the instrument, they are usually presented by individuals clearly having learning, behavior, motor, attention problems.

The testing time is about 3 to 4 minutes for a detailed pattern of the fields.

newinstrument2.jpg (15806 bytes)

Be sure to see the News/Discussion information page.