Legal aspects of visual field assessment

Visual field testing can fail to satisfy the standard of care if the optometrist does not test the patient's visual field when it is necessary, and if, even when testing is performed, it is of insufficient sensitivity. In general, the duty to test the visual field arises when examining symptomatic patients and when a suspicious finding is encountered, but "routine" eye health assessments should include a screening visual field test. In some cases the doctrine of informed consent will require the optometrist to inform the patient that testing of the visual field at threshold should be performed. Documentation of both test results and patient communications should be retained in the record.