Visual Field test…What is that?

A visual field test is a way to measure a person’s entire scope of vision, that is their central and peripheral(side) vision. The visual field test is a subjective examination, requiring the patient to understand the testing instructions, to fully cooperate, and to complete the entire test in order to provide useful information for the doctor.

Most often, visual field testing is ordered to detect any signs of glaucoma damage to the optic nerve. Visual field tests are also useful for detection of central or peripheral retinal diseases, eyelid conditions, optic nerve diseases, and diseases affecting the visual pathways within the brain.

There are a variety of methods utilized to measure the visual fields. Virtually all visual field testing is performed one eye at a time, with the opposite eye completely covered to avoid errors. In all testing, the patient must look straight ahead at a fixation target. Most modern visual field testing devices also continuously monitor this fixation.

To summarize, visual field testing is useful in numerous situations: screening for glaucoma, testing a patient already diagnosed with glaucoma for treatment response, screening and testing for lid droop or ptosis, testing for macular diseases such as macular degeneration or toxicity from certain medications used for rheumatoid arthritis, testing for peripheral retinal disease such as retinitis pigmentosa or retinal detachment, testing the function of the optic nerve looking for tumor, injury, poor circulation or stroke, compression from swelling in the eye socket or orbit, or severe dietary deficiency, testing the visual pathways to the brain, looking for tumor, brain swelling, injury, or poor circulation, and testing the visual or occipital cortex, looking for tumor, injury, brain swelling, or poor circulation.

Visual field testing is generally covered by most health-care insurance plans. Testing may be limited by some insurance plans to once or twice per year depending on the patient’s diagnosis.

Foods For Healthy Eyes

Fruits and vegetables are in season now and to maintain healthy eyes, there are several foods that you may want to consider either adding to your diet or eating more regularly. Some important nutrients are beta-carotene, carotenoids, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Specifically, eating the darker-colored fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, spinach, papayas, tomatoes and broccoli are very good for your eyes. These contain beta-carotene and certain carotenoids, two vital nutrients.

In addition, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are very important. Vitamin C will help protect your eyes from damage that comes from ultraviolet light. This antioxidant may also delay the development of cataracts but this study has not been proven yet. In addition to citrus fruits, you will find Vitamin C in Brussels sprouts, kiwi and strawberries.

Vitamin E might also help in the prevention of cataracts. Further, this nutrient assists in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration. Rather than being a major nutrient in fruits and vegetables, there is an abundance of Vitamin E in vegetable oils. You will also find Vitamin E in hazelnuts, almonds and peanut butter.

Be smart next time you go to the grocery and pick up some foods that will be beneficial to the health of your eyes. Eating foods full of these nutrients will make your eyes feel younger for longer. Adding lots of color to your dinner plate will make your eyes happier too!

The Eye Care Institute Facebook Campaign Yields Over $1,100 for American Diabetes Association

The Eye Care Institute is a proud supporter of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly respond to insulin, an essential hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy for daily life.

Diabetes affects the eyes through the retinal blood vessels. Diabetic changes in the blood vessels impair their ability to supply the retina with nutrients which may cause portions of the retina to be starved of oxygen. Sean F Murphy, MD is our diabetic eye disease specialist. Dr. Murphy provides diabetic eye disease treatment at our offices at 1536 Story Avenue and at Audubon Medical Plaza.

To raise funds for the American Diabetes Association, The Eye Care Institute recently ran a Facebook advertising campaign. For each Facebook user who clicked “Like” at www.facebook.com/EyeCareInstitute, The Eye Care Institute offered to donate $2. As a result of these efforts, Dr. Sean Murphy presented Lauren Harris, of The American Diabetes Association, with a check for $1,108 on July 20, 2010.