Physical Exam

Visual Field Testing

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Video coming September 2026

How to Perform

Sit or stand facing the patient about a meter away at eye level. Ask the patient to cover one eye and to look at your opposite eye. Present a number of fingers or wiggling fingers in each of the four visual field quadrants of the eye, midway between you and the patient, and ask them to report when and how many they see, comparing their visual field with your own. Then, test all four visual field quadrants of the other eye.

How to Interpret

Visual Field Defect

Visual field defect detected on confrontation testing

Rule in

HelpfulNo CI

Rule out

Somewhat helpfulNo CI

Evidence:LimitedResearch in progress

References

Research in progress on one or more findings above; ratings may change.

Kerr NM, Chew SSL, Eady EK, Gamble GD, Danesh-Meyer HV. Diagnostic accuracy of confrontation visual field tests. Neurology. 2010 Apr 13;74(15):1184-1190. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181d90017. PMID: 20385890.
Johnson LN, Baloh FG. The accuracy of confrontation visual field test in comparison with automated perimetry. J Natl Med Assoc. 1991;83(10):895-898. PMID: 1800764.
Jacobson DM. The localizing value of a quadrantanopia. Arch Neurol. 1997;54(4):401-404. PMID: 9109741.
Vallar G, Rusconi ML, Bignamini L, Geminiani G, Perani D. Anatomical correlates of visual and tactile extinction in humans: a clinical CT scan study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1994;57(4):464-470. PMID: 8163997.

Research last updated September 9, 2026.