How is the visual field of a patient assessed?

The assessment of a patient's visual field is primarily carried out through perimetry tests, which are specifically designed to measure the entire range of vision in a systematic way. These tests help identify areas of vision loss or blind spots, providing valuable information about the health of the optic nerve and the overall visual pathway.

During perimetry testing, patients are usually asked to focus on a central point while identifying when they see lights or patterns presented in various peripheral locations. This method is effective in diagnosing conditions such as glaucoma, retinal diseases, and neurological issues that may affect vision.

Other methods like digital imaging techniques and retinal scans primarily focus on capturing detailed images of the retina or the structural components of the eye, which do not directly evaluate a person's visual field. Similarly, while conducting patient interviews can yield important subjective reports about vision, it does not provide a quantitative measure of visual field performance. Thus, perimetry stands out as the definitive method for this specific assessment.