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One Quick Try

Peripheral Vision Test

Eyes on the centre. A shape flashes there and a star near the edge. Did you catch both?

Type
Perception
Takes
about 1-2 min
Result in
correct

Peripheral Vision

~1-2 min

  1. Keep your eyes on the cross in the middle the whole time.
  2. For a split second a shape appears in the middle and a star near the edge.
  3. Say which shape was in the middle, then where the star was. 16 rounds.

Sit at your usual distance and don't move your eyes. Glancing at the edge makes you miss the middle.

Your result: — / 16

How it's measured

Try another challenge

  • Visual Search

    Find the one T hidden among the Ls.~1 min

  • Object Tracking

    Keep your eyes on the marked dots.~2 min

  • Dot Counting

    Dots flash for a moment. How many were there?~1 min

  • Change Blindness

    Two pictures flicker. Spot the one difference.~1-3 min

  • Flanker Test

    Which way does the middle arrow point?~1 min

  • Estimation

    Too many dots to count. How many were there?~1-2 min

How does the peripheral vision test work?

Keep your eyes on the cross in the middle. For 200 milliseconds a small circle or square appears there, and at the same moment a star appears near the edge of the box. Then answer two questions: which shape was in the middle, and where was the star, by tapping one of eight places around the edge. There are 16 rounds, with the star in every direction twice.

How is your result calculated?

Your result is the number of rounds in which you got both answers right. You also see the two separately: how often you placed the star correctly, and how often you named the middle shape.

Why answer about the middle too?

To keep your eyes in the middle. With nothing to look at there, it is tempting to glance towards the edges to hunt for the star, and then the test isn't about the corner of your eye any more. Having to name the middle shape makes looking away cost you that answer. Tasks that combine a central target with one out to the side are used in research on how wide an area people take in at a glance.

Is this an eye test?

No. This is a game, not a visual field test, and it can't find blind spots or diagnose anything. Real visual field tests are done by optometrists and eye doctors with equipment that controls exactly where you look and how bright each spot is. If you notice gaps in your vision, objects disappearing at the side, or a change in how much you can see, see an eye professional rather than relying on any online test.

What can change your result

  • How far you sit from the screen. The closer you are, the further into the corner of your eye the star appears. Sit at your usual distance and keep it the same between runs.
  • Screen size and brightness. A larger or brighter screen makes the star easier to catch.
  • Moving your eyes. Glancing at the edge usually costs the middle answer.

For finding a target among many, try the Visual Search Test; for keeping track of several moving things, Multiple Object Tracking.

Questions

Can this test check my peripheral vision for problems?
No. It is a game and can't detect blind spots or eye conditions. Visual field testing is done by optometrists and eye doctors; see one if you notice any change in your vision.
How wide is normal peripheral vision?
For each eye, about 90 degrees out to the side from the point you look at, 50 degrees up and towards the nose, and 60 degrees down, according to the medical textbook Clinical Methods (1990). A screen covers only a sliver of that: the star here is a few degrees from the centre, so this game uses the near edge of your vision.
What does peripheral vision mean?
Everything you see outside the point you are looking at: the corner of your eye. It is less sharp than central vision but good at noticing movement and things appearing.
What is a peripheral vision test called?
A visual field test, or perimetry. An eye professional has you look at a central point while small lights appear at different places around it, and maps where you can see them. This game borrows the idea, but it can't map your field.
Does it matter how far I sit from the screen?
Yes. Sitting closer puts the star further into the side of your vision. Keep the same distance between runs if you want to compare them.
Why does the star only flash for a moment?
200 milliseconds is too short to move your eyes to it and back, so you have to catch it from the corner of your eye.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes, but a small screen puts the star only slightly off centre, which makes it easier than on a large screen.