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What is the Visual Field?

From Jose Vega M.D., Ph.D., for About.com

Created: May 20, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: What is the Visual Field?
Answer: The visual field is the entire area we can see when we are looking straight ahead. This includes everything immediately in front of us and to the sides.

Therefore, generally speaking, the visual fields are divided into the central field, which receives visual stimulation from the middle 30 degrees, and the peripheral fields, which receive visual stimuli from everything to wither side of the central 30 degrees.

The visual fields can be affected by strokes, tumors, and other forms of brain damage.

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