Peripheral vision is the side vision of your eye. This allows you to see things outside the central vision without the need for turning your head. Peripheral vision is obtained with the help of nerve cells and rods that are present outside the macula. This vision lets you perform activities such as driving, playing, etc.
The loss of peripheral vision is called peripheral vision loss or tunnel loss. If you have peripheral vision, you can only see the objects in front of you, but not the objects on the side, above or below you.
Does Peripheral Vision Loss Show Any Signs?
You may develop peripheral vision loss either in one eye or both eyes. The following are the common signs:
- Outer edges of the vision become black or blurry
- Bumping into things and people
- Being sensitive to light
- Swelling of the eyes
- Difficulty to navigate through crowds
Peripheral vision loss can either be temporary or permanent. If you ever notice any changes in your site, consider visiting an ophthalmologist for an early diagnosis.
What Causes Peripheral Vision Loss?
Tunnel vision occurs due to the conditions that affect the parts of the body or eyes that let you see such as the brain, nerves, and blood vessels. The following are some of those conditions that cause tunnel vision:
- Glaucoma: It refers to a group of eye conditions that affect the optic nerve and cause vision loss.
- Migraine: A migraine headache can also have an impact on your peripheral vision and can lead to complete vision loss. However, it lasts only for only 20 to 60 minutes. But if your signs persist for more than one hour, seek medical assistance.
- Retinitis pigmentosa: It is a genetic disorder that breaks down the rod and cone cells in the retina. Due to the damage to rod cells, you may experience tunnel vision.
- Optic neuritis: It is the inflammation of the optic nerve and it can lead to temporary peripheral vision loss.
- Retinal detachment: The retina may detach from the eye due to various reasons such as age, injury, etc. Peripheral vision loss is a sign of retinal detachment and this condition can lead to severe vision loss.
- Diabetic retinopathy: People who have diabetes may develop this condition which can cause vision loss.
- Head injuries and stroke: The eye’s optic nerve may get damaged due to a traumatic event such as a brain injury, stroke, etc. This can cause peripheral vision loss or other vision problems.
- Papilledema: It is the swelling of the optic disc and it occurs due to an increased intracranial pressure on the optic nerve. Blind spots, blur vision, and peripheral vision loss are some of the signs of papilledema.
Testing Peripheral Vision
If you are finding difficulty in peripheral vision, an eye doctor will perform a visual field test to check how far you can see without turning your head. It also helps to test the extent of your vision field. The doctor may also conduct various other tests such as:
- Confrontation visual field test
- Automated static perimetry test
- Kinetic visual field test
Early diagnosis and treating the underlying cause of peripheral vision loss can reduce the damage. Some eye diseases may not show any signs. But an eye doctor can determine through diagnostic tests. Hence, it is advised to have regular comprehensive eye tests so that the doctor can identify any eye issues early before they cause any problems.
Treatment for Peripheral Vision Loss
The treatment for tunnel vision is based on its causes and the severity of your condition. For example, if tunnel vision is caused by a detached retina, reattaching the retina can bring your peripheral vision back.
Visual field loss caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. But, if the condition is diagnosed at an early stage, further vision loss can be prevented. In this case, a prism is added to your eyeglasses to redirect the image to the center of your field or to increase the visual field. In some cases, you may need surgery to treat the underlying cause that led to tunnel vision. The eye doctor can determine the right treatment for you by considering various factors.
Have Signs of Tunnel Vision? Visit Think Eye Hospital Today
If you are experiencing any changes in your peripheral vision, visit Think Eye Hospital right away. We have a team of experienced ophthalmologists who can treat any eye problems ranging from simple to complex. Our main goal is to provide our patients with a world-class experience. We also ensure to provide attentive, personalized service for every patient who visits us. We use the latest visual field-testing equipment to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your condition. To discuss your condition, Request an appointment today.
