Visual Field

If a child's visual field has not been measured, its size can be roughly assessed at school using confrontation techniques. These do not reveal the structure of the visual field in more detail. There may be scotomas, patchy loss within the visual field. Small scotomas in the central visual field may disturb reading, especially when the child is learning to read. When the scotoma is so small that only one or two letters fall within it, the child is not aware of it. It is 'filled in' by visual information from the surrounding areas. Older children may notice bending of lines toward each other in Amsler chart but that cannot be noticed when watching the environment.

All tests need to be presented within the visual field of a child. Tests like grating acuity cards or LEA GRATINGS or Hiding Heidi cards can be presented vertically if there is hemianopia, loss of one half of the visual field, or in the upper part of the visual field when the lower part of the visual field does not function.