This is a standard test during most eye exams. You may be asked to repeat the test several times with each eye. Your eye doctor may also ask you to count their fingers to test how well you can see with your peripheral vision. Make sure you keep staring straight ahead. You’re only cheating yourself if you try peeking to the side a little in order to catch an earlier glimpse of their hand.
Only press the button when you detect a flash of light. Pretending to see things that you don’t probably won’t help you “do better” on the test, and may just mask vision issues that need to be addressed.
In the process, the machine that conducts the test will create a map of your peripheral vision. This will allow your doctor to identify any weak spots, gaps, or areas of concern.
In some cases, wearing eyeglasses with prism lenses can slightly improve peripheral vision. Especially if your peripheral vision has been affected by an injury, undergoing regular eye exercises with a physical therapist may help as well.
You can also use a piece of rigid foam board instead of cardboard.
This smaller circle will become the cut-out for your nose.
If this is part of a child’s science project, an adult should supervise this task or do it themselves. Scissors and especially utility knives can be very dangerous.
You’ll hold the cup with both hands to keep the board in position while taking the test.
The pushpin might stick all the way through the cardboard, so be careful not to prick your finger on it while testing!
You can use a different combination of easy-to-distinguish colors, but red, yellow, and green are the ideal combination.
When your friend uses one of these triangular strips during the test, make sure they hold it with the pointed end up.
Keep the board steady and level in front of you during the test.
Your friend needs to remain as still as possible during the test. It may be easiest for them to sit or stand directly across from you, past the pushpin. But keep your focus on the pushpin, not them. The paper strip should be beyond your field of vision when at the starting point. If you can detect it being there, make sure you’re staring straight ahead and that your partner is holding the paper strip in the corner of the board.
If you want to keep a record of your results, have your friend quickly mark this point on the underside of the board with a pencil before proceeding further. Because of how peripheral vision functions—relying more on the rods in your eyes that are sensitive to movement, rather than the color-sensitive cones—you should notice that something is moving before you can make out its shape or color.
If desired, they can mark these spots with pencil on the underside of the board as well.
For instance: red triangle to your right; yellow rectangle to your left; yellow triangle to your right; green triangle to your left; red rectangle to your right; green rectangle to your left.
