Peripheral Vision: Frequently Asked Questions

February 12, 2020

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We have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding peripheral vision and explored it in depth while debunking some common misconceptions and beliefs surrounding it.

1: What is vision?

Vision is a broad term that can be defined as the ability of the eye to look at the surroundings. Vision includes all visual skills and abilities such as visual acuity, focus, accuracy, and color vision. The field of view, eye movements, eye pigmentation, the number of rods and cones in the eye, and health and size of the eye also play an important role in determining the vision of an individual.

2: What is Peripheral Vision?

The peripheral vision or indirect vision is the side vision that allows the eye to view objects on either side. Peripheral vision allows a person to view objects around them without having to move their eyes or head. Peripheral vision is a result of different nerve cells and rods located outside of the macula.

3: Does the eye only have one type of vision?

There are two kinds of vision in the eye: a central or foveal vision and a peripheral or indirect vision. These two vision types combine together to help create a better view of the surroundings.

4: What is peripheral vision loss?

When parts of the eye begin to deteriorate, they may result in loss of some vision. When the deterioration occurs in the periphery of the eye, the damage is known as peripheral vision loss. Different diseases can cause loss of peripheral vision.

5: What diseases cause peripheral vision loss?

Different diseases such as Glaucoma, Choroideremia, Optic Neuritis, Compressed Optic Nerve Head, Optic Nerve Head Drusen, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Papilledema, Stargardt’s Disease, Diabetic Retinopathy, Optic Neuropathy, and eye strokes can result in the loss of peripheral vision.

6: Can the human eye see only straight ahead?

The human visual field extends to 100° horizontally, 60° medially, 60° upward, and 75° downward.

7: How wide is the peripheral vision?

The visual field of the human eye spans across 120° of the arc, most of which is the peripheral vision.The peripheral vision of the eye is limited, but it is divided across three different zones. These zones are the near-peripheral vision, the mid-peripheral vision, and the far peripheral vision. Each covering a different angle.

8: How does the peripheral vision work?

In the human eye, there are two kinds of photoreceptor cells present inside the retina: the rods and the cones. The rods are responsible for vision in low light, while the cones help with color vision and high spatial acuity. The rods are only able to perceive one kind of pigment while the cones have three different pigments; red, green, and blue.

9: Is peripheral vision black and white?

The rod photoreceptorcells in the periphery of the eye can only perceive one single pigment, allowing the eye to view surrounding objects in black and white. However, a few cone photoreceptor cells are also present in the eye, which help in viewing some of the color vision.The result of the photoreceptor cells is that the color vision is not as good in the periphery. Yet, the brain is able to make out a complete picture by filling in the gaps, without letting us know about our blind spot.

10: What are the different zones of peripheral vision?

Different zones of the peripheral vision include near-peripheral vision, the mid-peripheral vision, and the far peripheral vision. These zones cover different ranges and angles, which are as follows:

Near-Peripheral Vision: Beyond 18° till 30° of the visual field

Mid-Peripheral Vision: Beyond 30° but limited to 60° of the visual field

Far-Peripheral Vision: Beyond 60° till 100° to 110° of the visual field

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11: Do humans only have one kind of vision?

False. Humans have two different kinds of visions: Central Vision and Peripheral Vision. Both central and peripheral visions of eye play an important role in helping us view our surroundings. The central vision is responsible for the vision that is straight ahead, while the peripheral vision is responsible for the surrounding view.

12: When does a person’s vision fully develop?

The visual acuity of a human being develops by the time a child reaches six months of age.

13: Can injury or trauma cause peripheral vision loss?

Yes, injury or trauma to the eye and brain can result in optic damage. Strokes of the eye or the brain can result in the severe vision loss or damage to the eye.

14: Can cataracts cause peripheral vision loss?

If the damage caused by cataracts is left untreated without proper management, the peripheral vision of the eye will also be affected, resulting in eventual blindness.

15: Can migraines cause peripheral vision loss?

Ocular migraines result in the temporary loss of vision in one eye, caused due to reduced blood flow or spasms of the blood vessel. Visual migraines, on the other hand, result in a blind spot, which may appear in the center or near the visual field. Visual migraines also result in wavy or zigzag colored light accompanied by a central blind spot. Like migraine headaches, ocular migraines and visual migraines may be temporary and result in temporary symptoms. However, if the effects of the migraine persist for more than a few hours, contact your doctor at once.

16: Is tunnel vision the same as a peripheral vision?

A visual field defect that results in the loss of peripheral vision is known as tunnel vision. Tunnel vision may occur due to a disease or an injury to the eye. The loss of peripheral vision results in a tunnel-like view where only a small circle in front of the eye is visible.

17: Are there any tests for peripheral vision?

Yes, there are some tests for peripheral vision. Your eye doctor will use methods such as a visual acuity test, confrontation visual field, automated perimeter, or a Goldman field test. These tests can help analyze your peripheral vision and determine if you have any loss of peripheral vision.

18: Can peripheral vision loss be prevented?

Peripheral vision loss can be controlled but the symptoms are likely to persist over several years. By adopting healthy lifestyle changes, peripheral vision loss can be slowed down. However, peripheral vision loss due to certain diseases especially hereditary ones such as glaucoma cannot be cured, thus, special care should be taken by people who have a family history of eye diseases.

19. Can peripheral vision be restored?

Loss of peripheral vision is commonly caused as a result of low vision diseases or injury. Depending on the extent of damage to your eye, depending on the disease or injury, your eye may or may not heal itself. The restoration of peripheral vision due to diseases may be difficult but your doctor can better inform you of the extent of the damage and possible measures you can take for your eye health.

20: Does exercise help with peripheral vision loss?

Certain exercises such as yoga and aerobic exercises can help slow down the progress of peripheral vision loss. Exercise cannot treat the disease or cure it. However, regular exercise can only help relieve some of the symptoms of the disease.

21: If I suffer from peripheral vision loss, will I suffer from the loss of central vision?

The loss of peripheral vision may or may not result in loss of central vision. Peripheral vision loss is either due to disease or due to injury. With the passage of time, the damage to the eye may increase spontaneously, resulting in blindness.

22: If I have good health, a healthy lifestyle and no family history of vision loss, will I suffer from eye diseases?

With healthy living habits and a good lifestyle, you are at decreased risks of vision loss. However, with the passage of time, our body begins to deterioratedue to old age, which may result in vision loss.

23: Are there any treatments for Peripheral Vision Loss?

Treatments for peripheral vision loss depend on the respective disease or injury. You can better explore these treatment options with the help of your doctor. On the other hand, there are certain low vision devices that can aid you with the loss of your peripheral vision. Devices such as the IrisVision can provide you with a better opportunity at life, despite limited vision.

24: Is peripheral vision loss a disability?

Yes, peripheral vision loss is considered a disability, since the loss of peripheral vision can affect one or both eyes, hindering the interaction of the individual with their surroundings. However, the extent of damage in both eyes is first determined before someone is qualified for disability benefits.

25: How can you check your peripheral vision at home?

Your doctor can provide professional practices for checking your peripheral vision. However, there are different at-home tests that you can perform to get an idea about these peripheral vision tests. To learn more on how to test your peripheral vision, visit here.

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