“Visual Field Defect” - Anyone else ever deal?

[beaglesandbass]

I’m 38. When I was in high school and going out for sports (2002ish), it was discovered that I needed glasses. I Wore glasses/contacts up until 2016 when I got LASIK. I’m not sure when my last eye exam was after that, but it’s probably been a few years. Anyway, after LASIK, I never got the corrective lenses requirement taken off my license. It was an in person thing and I always renewed online. Well now with Real ID becoming a thing, I figured I’d just get it off at my appointment, 2 birds 1 stone type of thing.

I’m not sure how other states have their vision test set up at their state’s DMV/MVC, but here in NJ, there are 12 boxes divided up into 3 columns/4 rows, with 4 letters in each box. With both eyes open the letters were perfectly clear, but the boxes in the left hand column were all blank. Not blurry, completely empty. When I closed my right eye everything showed up as it should, but with the right eye open, nothing in the left hand column. This has never been a problem with any eye exam until now. When I needed glasses before, it’s because my vision was bad, not because I had any kind of field defect.

They told me I needed to go to an eye doctor and tell them I have a “visual field defect” in my right eye.

So, anyone else ever deal? What was the outcome?

 

[Mike N]

NY they ask you to look at the chart on the wall and read the bottom line, or bring a form from your optometrist to satisfy the vision test.

I haven't applied for a Real ID and I'm not planning on it, either..... I've had a passport since 1980.

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

I’m 38. When I was in high school and going out for sports (2002ish), it was discovered that I needed glasses. I Wore glasses/contacts up until 2016 when I got LASIK. I’m not sure when my last eye exam was after that, but it’s probably been a few years. Anyway, after LASIK, I never got the corrective lenses requirement taken off my license. It was an in person thing and I always renewed online. Well now with Real ID becoming a thing, I figured I’d just get it off at my appointment, 2 birds 1 stone type of thing.

I’m not sure how other states have their vision test set up at their state’s DMV/MVC, but here in NJ, there are 12 boxes divided up into 3 columns/4 rows, with 4 letters in each box. With both eyes open the letters were perfectly clear, but the boxes in the left hand column were all blank. Not blurry, completely empty. When I closed my right eye everything showed up as it should, but with the right eye open, nothing in the left hand column. This has never been a problem with any eye exam until now. When I needed glasses before, it’s because my vision was bad, not because I had any kind of field defect.

They told me I needed to go to an eye doctor and tell them I have a “visual field defect” in my right eye.

So, anyone else ever deal? What was the outcome?

Info on BVD

Both Eyes Open: How Binocular Vision Dysfunction Affects How You See the World

Binocular vision dysfunction means you can’t see the world as a single, clear picture. Learn why it happens and what you can do about it.

my.clevelandclinic.org

I assume you were leaning into a device showing different sets of columns to each eye.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

I’m 38. When I was in high school and going out for sports (2002ish), it was discovered that I needed glasses. I Wore glasses/contacts up until 2016 when I got LASIK. I’m not sure when my last eye exam was after that, but it’s probably been a few years. Anyway, after LASIK, I never got the corrective lenses requirement taken off my license. It was an in person thing and I always renewed online. Well now with Real ID becoming a thing, I figured I’d just get it off at my appointment, 2 birds 1 stone type of thing.

I’m not sure how other states have their vision test set up at their state’s DMV/MVC, but here in NJ, there are 12 boxes divided up into 3 columns/4 rows, with 4 letters in each box. With both eyes open the letters were perfectly clear, but the boxes in the left hand column were all blank. Not blurry, completely empty. When I closed my right eye everything showed up as it should, but with the right eye open, nothing in the left hand column. This has never been a problem with any eye exam until now. When I needed glasses before, it’s because my vision was bad, not because I had any kind of field defect.

They told me I needed to go to an eye doctor and tell them I have a “visual field defect” in my right eye.

So, anyone else ever deal? What was the outcome?

Your doctor may have the equipment to do the test. It may be best to find out for sure to what extent you are affected, if any.
The source of such a problem might be organic or neurological.
If you have a diminished field of vision your driving priviliges may be affected depending severity. In a mild case you may have to learn to scan consciously your surroundings to assemble complete visual data. Sorry to hear you have to deal with this at such an early age.