Visual field test cost
The basic confrontation visual field test (where the optometrist holds up fingers in your peripheral vision) is part of every standard sight test, free or private. A formal automated perimetry test using a Humphrey Field Analyzer or FDT machine is a private add-on at most chains (typically £30 to £80) or is NHS-funded when clinically indicated.
Visual field test prices at UK opticians
| Provider | Cost | Equipment |
|---|---|---|
| Specsavers (private add-on) | £30 to £50 | FDT or Humphrey |
| Boots Opticians | £40 to £60 | Humphrey |
| Vision Express | £35 to £55 | Humphrey or FDT |
| Independent specialist | £60 to £100 | Humphrey or Octopus |
| NHS hospital eye service | Free (referral) | Humphrey |
| NHS optometry shared care | Free (qualifying patients) | Humphrey or FDT |
What the visual field test measures
Your visual field is the area you can see while looking straight ahead, including peripheral vision. A healthy field extends roughly 60 degrees nasally, 100 degrees temporally, 60 degrees superiorly, and 75 degrees inferiorly from the central fixation point. Loss of any part of this field can result from glaucoma, stroke affecting the visual pathway, retinal disease, optic nerve disease, brain tumours, certain medications, and several other neurological or ophthalmic conditions.
Automated static perimetry (the Humphrey method) flashes small spots of light at known locations in your visual field and records which ones you see. The result is a printed map showing sensitivity at each tested point. Patterns of loss are characteristic of different diseases: nerve fibre bundle defects for glaucoma, hemianopia for stroke, central scotoma for macular disease, ring scotoma for retinitis pigmentosa.
The basic confrontation test (which is part of every sight test at no extra cost) is a simple screening: the optometrist asks you to identify how many fingers they hold up in your peripheral vision while you look directly at their nose. It catches gross defects but misses subtle early losses. Automated perimetry is much more sensitive.
When a formal visual field test is clinically indicated
- Glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring. NICE NG81 recommends visual field testing for every glaucoma suspect and every diagnosed glaucoma patient, repeated annually or more often depending on disease severity. This is the single largest indication.
- Sudden visual symptoms suggesting neurological cause. Visual field loss combined with headache, weakness, or speech change can indicate stroke or brain pathology and requires urgent assessment.
- Certain medications. Hydroxychloroquine (used in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis), vigabatrin (epilepsy), and several other drugs can cause visual field defects. Annual screening is recommended in national guidelines for long-term users.
- DVLA Group 2 licence applications. HGV and PSV licence holders must demonstrate a much wider visual field than Group 1 drivers, tested by an Esterman-pattern Humphrey examination.
- Post-stroke or post-head-injury follow-up. Cortical visual field defects (hemianopia, quadrantanopia) are common after stroke or significant head injury and are mapped by automated perimetry.
For any of these clinical indications, the test is NHS-funded either through hospital eye services (after GP or optometrist referral) or through NHS shared care optometry schemes that exist in many regions. You should not need to pay privately for a clinically indicated test.
US billing for visual field testing
US optometrists and ophthalmologists bill visual field testing under CPT codes 92081 (limited), 92082 (intermediate), and 92083 (extended). The most common code for a glaucoma monitoring field is 92083. The Medicare allowed amount for 92083 is around $48 to $65 nationally, with regional variation. Cash prices at US clinics typically range $60 to $150 depending on whether the test is bundled with a full eye exam visit. Vision insurance (VSP, EyeMed) generally does not cover medical visual field testing; medical insurance does, with usual co-pay and coinsurance structures.
Common questions
How much does a visual field test cost?
The confrontation visual field test (the optometrist holds up fingers in your peripheral vision) is included in every standard NHS and private sight test at no extra cost. A formal automated perimetry test using a Humphrey or FDT machine costs £30 to £80 as a private add-on, or is free on the NHS when clinically indicated for glaucoma monitoring or to investigate symptoms.
When is a formal visual field test clinically needed?
Common indications include suspected or diagnosed glaucoma (the most frequent reason), visual symptoms suggestive of neurological cause, head injury follow-up, certain medications that can affect the visual field, and certain occupational fitness assessments. For these indications the test is NHS-funded and usually performed in a hospital glaucoma clinic or optometry practice contracted to deliver the service.
What is the difference between a Humphrey and an FDT test?
Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) is the gold-standard static perimetry machine. It tests around 76 points in the central 30 degrees, takes 6 to 10 minutes per eye. Frequency Doubling Technology (FDT) is a faster screening alternative that takes around 1 minute per eye and is sensitive to early glaucomatous defects. Most high street opticians use FDT for routine screening; hospital glaucoma clinics use HFA for monitoring.
Does the DVLA require a visual field test?
Not as part of the routine over-70 renewal. The DVLA requires a visual field test only if a doctor or optometrist reports a concern, or if you hold a Group 2 (HGV/PSV) licence. The DVLA minimum field for Group 1 (car/motorcycle) is 120 degrees horizontal with no significant defect in the binocular field. Group 2 requires a much wider field with stricter criteria.
Is the Humphrey test painful?
No, it is painless. You rest your chin on a support, look straight ahead at a fixed target, and click a button when you see a light flash in your peripheral vision. Some people find the concentration tiring across the 6 to 10 minutes per eye. The optometrist can repeat tests where reliability indices are poor.
Where can I have a visual field test in the UK?
Most high street chains (Specsavers, Boots Opticians, Vision Express) and many independent opticians have at least an FDT screening machine. Full Humphrey perimetry is more common in larger Boots Opticians, Vision Express premium stores, hospital eye services, and independent specialist glaucoma practices.
Sources
Related guides
Glaucoma test cost bundle
Tonometry + OCT + visual field together.
OCT scan cost
Often paired with visual field for glaucoma.
Free eye test for glaucoma
NHS routes for diagnosed and family history.
Driving eyesight test
DVLA visual field requirements.
Retinal photography cost
Companion test to perimetry.
US eye test cost
CPT codes and insurance coverage.