Examination of the Ten Degrees of Visual Field Surrounding Fixation

Albrecht von Graete introduced visual field testing into clinical opnthalmology in 1856. He used a 3 x 4 foot blackboard divided into 3 in. squares as his campimeter and a piece of chalk as his test target.(1) Jannik Peterson Bjerrum developed the Bjerrum screen in 1889.(2) Using a test distance of 2 meters and test objects as small as 1 meter, he was able to accurately map the central 10 degrees. With the widespread use of the Goldmann perimeter, following its introduction m 1945, there was improved quantitation of the peripheral field. However, in many perimetrists hands, there was a aeemphasis of detailed testing of the central 10 degrees unless static perimetry was performed.