How to Effectively Recover Your Field of Vision

When it comes to the health of our eyes, understanding and maintaining our visual field is imperative. The visual field refers to the total area in which objects can be seen in the peripheral vision while the eye is focused on a central point. This article explores the importance of the visual field, reasons for its loss, how it’s examined, practical recommendations for taking such an examination, techniques for rehabilitation, innovative post-stroke restoration methods, assistive devices and professionals who can help, and ways to measure and evaluate progress in regaining one’s visual field.

Understanding the Visual Field: importance and Function

What Is the Visual Field ?

The visual field is a term used to describe the extent of the area that our eyes can see without moving our head or eyes. In terms of measurement, this typically extends from 130 to 150° horizontally and 100 to 130° vertically. It plays an important role in various activities like driving, reading, sports and more.

The Importance of Maintaining a Healthy Visual Field

Maintaining a healthy visual field is crucial as it impacts many daily activities. A decreased or distorted vision will severely affect one’s quality of life. The ability to detect movements or changes in the environment around us largely depends on our visual field.

Causes of Visual Field Loss: stroke and Diseases

Common Causes behind Visual Field Loss

A loss of visual field is often caused by diseases affecting the optic nerve such as glaucoma or neurologic conditions such as stroke. Other causes include brain tumors or any damage to parts of the brain responsible for processing visual information.

Stroke-Related Visual Field Loss

Stroke is a severe condition that often leads to the loss of visual field. It occurs when blood supply to certain areas of the brain gets cut off, leading to tissue damage in those areas – including areas responsible for vision.

The Visual Field Test: indications and Procedure

Indications for a Visual Field Test

A visual field test is commonly indicated in conditions such as glaucoma, brain tumors, or stroke. The test helps detect any deficits in your peripheral or “side” vision which can be a sign of these conditions.

Procedure of a Visual Field Test

The process involves assessing the presence of any blind spots (scotomas), peripheral vision loss and central vision loss. Generally conducted by an orthoptist before consulting an ophthalmologist, this test plays a vital role in deciphering contrast losses and fiber optic losses.

Practical Recommendations for Taking a Visual Field Exam

Preparing Yourself For The Examination

To get accurate results on your visual field exam, it’s important to prepare properly. This might include getting enough sleep so you’re alert during the exam, informing your optometrist about any medications you’re taking that could affect your vision, and wearing glasses if they are part of your prescribed visual correction.

Techniques for Rehabilitating Your Visual Field

Treatment And Rehabilitation Methods

• Hot compresses application: applying warm compresses regularly can help improve blood circulation around the eye area and promote healing.
• Eyewear like prism glasses: these can help extend the scope of peripheral vision over time.
• Eye exercises: specific exercises may assist in managing symptoms and improving overall sight.

Innovative Vision Restoration Methods Post-Stroke

Novel Treatment Approaches

Recent innovations in visual restoration after a stroke mainly focus on neural plasticity and include methods like VRT (Vision Restoration Therapy), which uses light stimuli to activate impaired vision areas and improve the visual field.

Aids and Professionals Specializing in Low Vision

The Aids Available

There are various aids available for individuals suffering from low vision, ranging from magnifying glasses, large-print reading materials, certain software that can read texts aloud, special lighting etc.

The Professionals You Can Consult

Optometrists, ophthalmologists and orthoptists are all professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating eye conditions including those affecting the visual field. Regular consultations with them can lead to timely detection and treatment of any issues.

Measuring and Evaluating Visual Field Progress

Evaluating improvement over time

To gauge improvement or decline in your visual field over time, regular assessments through visual field testing are essential. These tests give a detailed map of how each eye sees and help medical professionals to track changes over time.

In summation, understanding our visual field is integral to maintaining our overall quality of life as it impacts many day-to-day activities. It’s crucial to take proactive steps not only when loss occurs but also as part of preventative care. Regular check-ups with eye-care professionals along with adopting healthy habits can assist maintaining a strong visual field for years to come.