TEST VISUAL FIELDS

By: Carmen Willings   
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated May 19, 2019

The area that can be seen by the eye without shifting the gaze is known as the visual field. As part of the Functional Vision Evaluation, it is necessary to assess the student's visual fields. The technique used will vary depending on the students cognitive abilities. It is important to assess the student's visual fields even if the eye report indicates that there are no limitations in visual fields. Many optometrists and ophthalmologists will not formally test visual fields due to the student's age and cooperation. Normal visual fields in each area are 60 degrees from the nasal side, 90 degrees from the temporal side, 50 degrees superior (above), and 70 degrees inferior (below) from center. 

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Visual Field Assessment

Observation can often be the best way to observe the student's use of visual fields and note any areas of concern. ​Confrontation Field Testing is a way to informally measure the visual field. In a confrontation test, the student is positioned in front of the assessor. The individual is asked to look at the assessor's nose. A highly visible object is presented in a semicircle way from behind the student's head toward the assessor. The student indicates when they are able to perceive the object. 

Field Loss Implications

The central visual field is the "what" system, while the peripheral visual field is the "where" system. The visual field is the entire area of vision that can be used without shifting the eyes or moving the head, encompassing 180 degree arcs. Assess the student's visual fields including the student's preferences or limitations. Observe the students response to materials presented in the central visual field and to the peripheral visual fields. Note where the student responds to materials. Estimate the number of degrees from the nose.

Note other signs of possible field loss including: over-scanning; eccentric viewing; holding object to the side, up, or down to inspect it; stumbling over low-lying objects; functional peripheral vision is often a source of distractibility. A student's scanning of an array of objects or looking for a missing object can demonstrate his functional visual field at near point. For example, a compensatory head turn suggests a peripheral field loss to the side of the head turn, since the student has learned to compensate by moving the usable visual field toward the side where information is missing.

The performance of activities, such as scanning a map or doing a word-search puzzle, can also suggest where scotomas (areas of absent vision) may be located, because if students are asked to keep their heads perfectly still while doing them, they may miss information in some areas of the tasks. Students who walk with their heads turned slightly to one side may be compensating for a difference in visual fields. Eye preference, evidenced in typical tasks, can also be evaluated.

Observe special visual behaviors and repetitive behaviors including eccentric viewing, stereotypical behaviors, and fluctuating visual abilities. Observe whether the student uses corrective lenses and tolerates them. Also indicate if the student has received Orientation and Mobility services. Note how the student currently travels indoors, outdoors, in familiar and in unfamiliar environments.

The absence of a full (180 degrees) peripheral field may cause difficulty in sports and social difficulty due to not seeing those in their visual field or by using an odd posture in order to see. They also may not see downward flight of stairs or a curb. It also may limit the amount of letters/words can see at a time.

Suggestions & Strategies

Depending on the results of the Visual Fields Testing, the following strategies, recommendations, and accommodations may be necessary to meet the students unique visual needs:

• Seat to left/center/right side of room depending on field of vision
• Caution in PE or at recess with fast moving balls or objects
• Train the student to scan the environment prior to entering a new area
• Refer for O&M evaluation.

Strategies & Tips for Conducting a FVELMA Presentation

I have created a page covering items discussed during my presentation on conducting the FVELMA. Included is the PowerPoint, resources I use in conducting the FVELMA, and templates. Become a member for free to access this page as well as other presentation pages and printables. 

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TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
The TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC is a digital pdf available for download. It is designed specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), and consists of over 400 activities and topic areas of discussion for instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum. The activities are age-neutral and multi-sensory and therefore can meet the needs of the broad range of students served on an itinerant caseload serving. The activities can be individualized to the students various learning modalities and scaffold in order to challenge students but ensure success. Select those activities that align with the student’s learning objects based on the student’s unique visual needs and academic and developmental level. In addition to the core activity areas, each of the 32 Thematic Units incorporates additional unique ECC concepts and skills providing you with a years’ worth of activities. These units are cyclical and can be used repeatedly to help students build on prior knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. Each unit includes suggestions for activity adaptation associated with the unit. These include lists of objects, possible community-based experiences, environmental print, poems, children & young reader books, children's songs, pop culture songs, movies, and websites.


In addition to the book, the following two supplements are included:
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Concept Checklist
·      TVI’s Guide to the ECC Activities Checklist


For complete product details and additional images, visit the TVI's Guide product page.


TVI's Guide to the ECC Product details
·      Digital pdf download: 346 pages (11 pt font)
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets: TVI's Guide to the ECC Grab and Go Supplements
The Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets is a Grab and Go supplement to the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. This workbook is a pdf download that can be printed on demand for use with students. It contains five different types of worksheets for developing visual motor skills and near magnifier fluency skills particularly with the use of a video magnifier. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to each of the 32 ECC Thematic units. The worksheets, along with a list of environmental print for each thematic unit, are designed to help students refine their visual motor skills while reinforcing ECC concepts presented in the thematic units.  


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Product Page.


Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 210 pages
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets: A TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC Grab & go Supplement
The Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These word lists and sentences will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although the lists and passages can be produced using a manual braillewriter, you may also copy and paste the passages into any braille translation software for quick production on an embosser. They may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency & Maintenance Product Page


Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency Worksheet Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 338-page print and simulated braille worksheets
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement
The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. 


Additional Use:
Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code.


For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Vocabulary Cards & Checklists Product Page


Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Details:
·      Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource
·      Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments
·      Author: Carmen Willings
·      Language: English


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Lotto Cards
The LOTTO Cards Grab and Go Supplement includes 37 theme related unit cards along with activity suggestions that support activities within the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC.


On My Way File Folder Cards
Print and use these cards to represent locations the student may visit that are related to the current thematic unit. Use these with the On My Way File Folder Game outlined in the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC p. 27.

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