How to Test Your Peripheral Vision at Home

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Peripheral vision, or side vision, is what you see on the side of your field of view when looking straight ahead. It is crucial for activities such as driving, walking, and participating in sports, helping you to see obstacles and dangers without turning your head. While a professional eye exam is the best way to accurately measure your peripheral vision, there are simple tests you can perform at home to get an indication of whether there might be a problem with your peripheral awareness. 

1. Understanding Peripheral Vision

Peripheral vision encompasses the outer edges of your field of vision, approximately 180 degrees around you. It is less detailed than central vision but is more sensitive to light and motion. It can be affected by various eye conditions, such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, or stroke.

2. Preparation for the Test

Choose a well-lit room and eliminate distractions. You will need:

• A helper (friend or family member)
• A small object like a coloured ball or a pen
• A chair to sit on
• Tape (optional, to mark distances)

3. Setting Up the Test

• Sit comfortably on a chair facing straight ahead. Choose a point on the wall to focus on directly in front of you.
• Your helper should sit or stand beside you, within your peripheral field.
• If you have tape, you might mark a semi-circle around your chair as a guide for your helper to move along.

4. Testing One Eye at a Time

• Cover one eye with your hand or an eye patch, ensuring not to apply pressure on the eye.
• Focus your gaze on the selected point directly ahead, without moving your eyes or head during the test.
• Have your helper start from behind you, moving slowly towards your front, holding the small object at arm’s length. Instruct them to move quietly to avoid audio cues.
• Signal your helper to stop moving the moment you perceive the object entering your field of vision. Note the position.

5. Repeating the Test

• Repeat the process for the other eye.
• Conduct multiple rounds for each eye to ensure consistency in your results.

6. Assessing Your Results

• If you consistently notice the object at a wide angle close to your direct line of sight (approximately 90 degrees from the centre for each eye), your peripheral vision may be normal.
• Record any significant discrepancies, such as seeing the object much sooner with one eye compared to the other.

7. Limitations of Home Testing

It’s important to note that this home test is not a substitute for a professional peripheral vision test, known as perimetry, which can accurately map your entire field of vision and identify specific areas where your vision may be impaired.

8. When to See a Professional

• If your home test results suggest a reduced or uneven peripheral field.
• If you notice a sudden decrease in your peripheral vision.
• If you experience other symptoms like flashes of light, floaters, or a curtain-like shadow in your peripheral vision.

Testing your peripheral vision at home can be a useful first step in detecting potential issues. However, any concerns or abnormal results should prompt a visit to an eye care professional. Regular comprehensive eye exams remain crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions that affect peripheral vision, ensuring overall eye health and safety.