Functional scoring of the binocular field.

A new method for evaluating the total (BINOCULAR) field is based on FUNCTION instead of on anatomy. According to the author's theory of relative values, certain areas of the field are functionally more important than others in human activity. The new system imitates nature by plotting the total field binocularly instead of combining the two conventional monocular fields. Scoring is then done by a new binocular grid--a relative value scale, weighted exactly like its monocular prototype to favor the functionally more valuable parts of the field. The new method also led to the discovery of "binocular enhancement" that produces scores more realistic than formerly possible. Especially useful to ophthalmic consultants for evaluating visual capability or disability in industry, law and government (workers compensation, motor vehicle, social security, aviation, military), the new scale works accurately and rapidly with most existing perimeters, manual or automated.