What Is It Like To Lose Peripheral Vision?

Have you ever missed someone waving at you on the other side of the room? Or have you ever been surprised by your dog suddenly popping up next to you? Maybe your peripheral vision is to blame.

What is peripheral vision?

It is also known as side vision. It refers to the part of your vision field which sees objects above, below, and to the sides of your central vision. Your central vision allows you to focus on specific objects near and far to decipher details. On the other hand, objects in your peripheral vision are less detailed and appear out of focus.

What is it like to lose your peripheral vision?

The American Academy of Ophthalmology states a normal visual field spans over 120 degrees horizontally (from side to side) and over 90 degrees vertically (up and down). The most common symptom of side vision loss is a narrowing of your vision field.

Losing peripheral vision is most likely a sign of a more serious issue, such as an injury to the eye or ocular disease. Other accompanying symptoms might include:

• Reduced night vision
• Reduced color vision(i.e., color blindness)
• Blurry vision
• “Floaters” in the eye
• Partial or complete vision loss, if the underlying condition is left untreated

What can cause you to lose peripheral vision?

According to the AAO, the most common causes of peripheral vision loss include:

• An injury to the eye
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Retinitis Pigmentosa

How can you protect your peripheral vision?

The top two ways to protect all parts of your visual field are:

1. Wear protective glasses in the sun, or in situations where foreign objects could enter your eyes (such as when using power tools).
2. Test your vision regularly so you can stay informed of any sudden changes in your ocular health. Over 80% of cases of vision loss are preventable when you catch the signs early.

Learn how EyeQue lets you test your vision anytime, anywhere and securely track your vision changes.