I am awful at hospital visual field tests.. I get anxious, my eyes dry up, I worry if I blink I’ll miss a light, I’m hesitant to click on lower light blips (I’m overly cautious.. don’t know why!). I fret I didn’t press the buzzer when I should have (I.e. was that a dim light or not?) then miss the next one and so on!
My visual acuity is excellent.
I’ve read many posts on here about the Esterman test being different.. both eyes, brighter light blips only, wider vision and so on. My question is, can you pay to take practise tests to prepare oneself for the real test? Either at Specsavers or other opticians? Are all machines equal?
Thanks
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Blindbatuk
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Hello. Yes you can book to have a "test run". As the DVLA test will be at Specsavers, it would make sense to book one at the branch you will be doing the test for the DVLA, so that you get to know how the VFT machine works. The lights are constant and do not differ. You can blink. So many people feel they will miss a light if they do but you won't. If you suffer from dry eyes, use your dry eye drops 20-30 minutes before the test, so your eyes will be hydrated and lubricated.
Specsavers tend to use either Humphrey/Zeiss, which tend to be the ones used at the eye clinic. The other would be the Henson which is slightly different.
If, at your test run appointment you find the VFT machine is different to what you are used too, ask them to explain exactly how it works. The chin rest can be moved on any make of VFT machine so that your chin is not resting on the raised section. If this is not offered. Ask them to adjust it for you.
Trish's advice is good. You will need to confirm this at your test, but you can pause the test if you need a rest by keeping your finger on the button, then release to proceed. Blinking does more that wipe your eyes, there is retinal revitalisation too, so you are less likely to miss a spot by keeping your blink rate up. And keep breathing properly - it is tempting to hold your breath, which is actually unhelpful.
Probably each branch is different but at mine I have been allowed multiple tests, with and without glasses. Sometimes I have done 4 tests. Also the DVLA test is really only concerned with an area of vision which is "envelope" shaped. So misses or errors outwith that area don't count. Always ask at the start for printouts of your results, which you can keep and compare. Was first diagnosed 14 years ago but still get anxious going for the test. I have discovered that the way in which the test works means that it identifies "false positives" and other errors as the test flashes can go over the same area multiple times.
That what they did with me one with my glasses on. And repeated it without them. Ended up with a 5 years driving license think we are all the same not blinking holding how breath like am they now
Thanks all. I’ll definitely give Specsavers a call about a practice test.
A couple more questions.. does the test identify when you are blinking and discount any lights that were displayed at that point?
The envelope of vision.. is there anything online that illustrates this area of vision? I’ve read about the 20 degree central vision and I feel confident that I’ll be fine on that, it’s the wider peripheral vision that worries me and this is where I tend to stress out on the monocular hospital fields.. especially on the dim lights that are flashed out wide. I find myself thinking “was that one?”.
I do agree with the advice to book a test at specsavers, ideally on the machine you would do the test for real. I arranged some practice tests with my own optician recently and my hospital consultant was also kind enough to arrange some on the hospital machines as I wanted to compare how well I performed with and without glasses (both varifocal and reading). I wish you all the best for your practice sessions and DVLA test.
I'm an Ophthalmic Technician and carry out visual field tests every day. The only advice I can give you is to relax but concentrate, if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, the chin rest should be comfortable ie you rest your chin in the dip NOT on the bumpy bit in the middle, if you need to pause, keep the button pressed as this pauses the test until you are ready to continue. Make sure you blink and breathe as normal, because you're eyes will become tired and dry and breathing normally helps you to relax. Hope this helps
I failed my Esterman test on Zeiss machines twice, and then tried a test on a Henson machine, all these at different Specsaver branches. On the Zeiss machine, you stare at a fixed spot whilst 'clicking' on peripheral tiny light spots. I find it very stressful staring at one spot for about 5 minutes, which is the test duration. In the Henson test, you start by focussing on a central rd spot whilst 'clicking' on peripheral tiny spots, but then the red spot moves, and you have to find it again and then continue recording the peripheral spots. I found it difficult, as sometimes, the red spot moved from extreme left to extreme right positions, and similarly up and down. My performance on the Henson machine was terrible. I asked the technician if I could pause the test by holding down the button, but she said 'No'. I am taking another Zeiss test next Tuesday, and this time I shall focus not on the target spot, but 20 degrees below it, as this seems to be my (slightly) weak area. Needless to say, I have had to pay for all but one of these tests, but I feel that my vision is good - my visual acuity is excellent - and I don't have any difficulty seeing things peripherally in my normal everyday life.
I’ve seen the mention of wearing distance glasses for the field test or even reading glasses.
Since I had RLE in both eyes a few years ago I now have a distance prescription of just -1.0 (used to be -12.0 before RLE!!) and reading glasses of approx +1.75.
Would it be wise to use my distance glasses or just not bother? If the light dots are so close to your face I would have thought that distance glasses would potentially blur them?
When I go for my practice I’ll try with and without.!
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