How to Get Better Visual Field Test Results

A visual field test, also known as a field of vision test or eye field test, is a vital component in diagnosing and managing glaucoma, neurological conditions, and retinal diseases. Ensuring accurate visual field screening requires more than just sophisticated equipment. It depends on skilled technicians, well-prepared patients, and best practices for test setup and monitoring. Here’s how your practice can improve the accuracy and reliability of every field test eye exam.

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1. Train Your Technicians for Accurate Visual Field Testing

The foundation of reliable visual field testing starts with trained technicians. They must fully understand how to use the equipment and interpret basic indicators of test quality. Virtual Field supports eye care teams by offering:

• A detailed online user manual and quick-start guide
• Unlimited onboarding sessions with a dedicated customer success manager
• Live guidance and training for real-time troubleshooting

This comprehensive approach helps ensure your team can confidently conduct any field test eye exam, improving consistency and patient outcomes.

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2. Prepare the Patient Before Testing Their Field of Vision

Proper visual field screening begins before the test starts. Patients must be calm, well-informed, and physically ready. To prepare them effectively:

• Use a standardized script for consistent instruction delivery.
• Talk with patients before testing to assess fatigue, stress, or discomfort.
• Clarify expectations so patients know it’s not a pass/fail test — just a measurement of how well they see in different areas.

Clear instructions and patient awareness improve the accuracy of testing field of vision.

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3. Set the Stage for the Visual Field Exam

During the exam setup, technicians should follow these steps to optimize results:

Control Lighting

Although virtual exams can be done anywhere, a dimly lit room is ideal. It reduces distractions and improves the reliability of visual field test outcomes.

Address Language Barriers

With Virtual Field, instructions are available in over 40 languages, ensuring that every patient understands what’s expected.

Explain the Process

Let patients know blinking is okay and that they can request a restart at any time. Reassure them it’s not a performance test—false positives often result from anxiety.

Assess Eye Conditions

Check for dry eyes or ptosis. Use artificial tears if necessary or tape the eyelids when ptosis obstructs vision. These small steps help avoid false readings during visual field testing.

Ensure Comfort

Whether seated or reclining, patient comfort helps reduce movement and improve test reliability. Virtual Field makes this easier with portable, flexible testing options—including for wheelchair users.

Verify Lens Placement

Use trial lenses to correct refractive error and position them correctly to avoid distortion in the field of vision test.

Align VR Headsets Correctly

In virtual reality-based visual field exams, even slight misalignments can impact results. Center the headset for accurate stimulus delivery and prevent general depression or localized field defects.

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4. Conduct the Test with Active Monitoring

Technicians shouldn’t just start the exam and walk away. During a visual field test, they should:

• Monitor the fixation tracker to detect poor concentration or eye closure
• Look for signs of false responses and intervene when needed
• Restart tests when necessary (Virtual Field can auto-pause for inactivity)
• Coordinate with the physician before switching test strategies (e.g., from 24-2 to 10-2 for advanced glaucoma)

Technicians play a crucial role in the accuracy of every eye field test.

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5. Know When to Discard a Result

Not every field test eye exam yields usable data. Here’s how to decide whether a test should be repeated:

• False Positives Over 15–20%: Often due to patient anxiety or misunderstanding
• Fixation Losses: May not always be significant, but consistent losses can skew results
• False Negatives: Common in late-stage disease—use pattern over time to judge validity
• Inconsistent Reliability Across Tests: Look for patterns over multiple exams rather than relying on a single test

6. Match the Exam Type to the Clinical Need

Virtual Field offers various patterns for testing field of vision, each tailored for specific scenarios:

Choosing the right visual field screening type ensures more targeted and effective patient care.

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Final Thoughts

Improving your visual field test process — from technician training to patient prep and exam monitoring— can dramatically enhance the quality of your clinical data. With tools like Virtual Field, practices can streamline visual field testing, minimize variability, and achieve more accurate results across all patient populations.