visual field (VF)

Physiology

• that part of the environment seen with one or both eyes on forward gaze
• representation of the visual field in the occipital lobe is upside-down & backwards
• the left visual field in each eye falls on the right 1/2 if each retina; conversely, the right visual field of each eye falls on the left 1/2 of each retina
• optic fibers temporal to the fovea connect with the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus ipsilaterally
• optoc fibers nasal to the fovea cross over to the contralateral side at the optic chiasm
• the superior visual field falls on the inferior retina; conversely, the inferior visual field falls on the superior retina
• thus the superior visual field projects to the occipital lobe below the calcarine fissure; the inferior visual field above the calcarine fissure

Diagnostic procedures

• see perimetry (visual field testing)

Additional terms

• perimetry (visual field testing)