Visual field testing in Manly

The PTS 2000 complements the other diagnostic technologies in our Manly practice, providing our optometrists with another valuable tool to build a detailed picture of each patient’s vision and eye health. This aligns with our approach of combining thorough eye examinations with advanced technology for early disease detection and personalised care.

Your visual field is the entire area you can see while looking straight ahead. While central vision allows you to focus on something directly in front of you, peripheral vision helps you detect objects and movement around you. Visual field testing measures the sensitivity of different areas within the visual field. The results are displayed on a map that helps us identify areas where sensitivity is normal or where vision may be reduced.

There are several reasons we may recommend visual field testing. These include suspected or diagnosed glaucoma, retinal disease, neurological conditions such as stroke, monitoring the possible effects of certain systemic medications, and completing specific Fitness to Drive assessments.

Visual field testing can be repeated over time, allowing us to compare results and look for changes that may indicate progression of an eye condition. The PTS 2000 includes follow-up testing and Defect Progression Analysis capabilities designed to support longer-term monitoring.

A genuine benefit of our PTS 2000 is its ability to perform fast threshold testing. The analyser uses OPTOPOL’s ZETA™ thresholding algorithms. Testing can be completed in under three minutes. Visual field tests require concentration and consistent patient responses, so shorter testing times help patients remain comfortable and attentive during the examination. The technology adjusts its timing based on how quickly an individual patient responds to stimuli.

Reliability is supported through features including gaze tracking, blink monitoring and fixation control. The system can monitor pupil movement, detect when an eye is closed and avoid presenting a stimulus during a blink.

Visual field testing plays an important role in the diagnosis and ongoing management of glaucoma. One feature we particularly value is the PTS 2000’s 24-2C testing pattern. Traditional 24-2 visual field testing can miss some localised central defects due to the spacing between test points.

The 24-2C pattern addresses this by incorporating an additional 10 central test points, selected from locations known to be susceptible to glaucoma-related damage. This provides our optometrists with additional information about central areas of the visual field while avoiding the need to routinely perform two separate tests.

Sophisticated equipment provides us with valuable information, but technology is only one part of quality eye care. At Ian Donald Optometrist, visual field results are considered alongside your eye health history, symptoms, vision, clinical examination and other diagnostic findings. Our focus on preventive eye care means using the right technology when it can provide additional information to help us detect, understand, or monitor changes in your eyes.

The addition of the PTS 2000 visual field analyser broadens that capability. Whether we are investigating possible glaucoma, monitoring an existing condition, assessing peripheral vision or completing a required visual field examination, we can offer patients advanced visual field testing conveniently within our Manly practice.

It is another example of our ongoing investment in technology and our commitment to providing the Manly and Northern Beaches community with comprehensive eye care focused on protecting vision for the long term.

Ian Donald Optometrists has been a permanent and trusted symbol for Manly and the residents of the North Beaches for decades. We specialise in Ortho-K and have helped hundreds of children transition to this safe, non-surgical option with excellent results.

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