Seen Differently

All patterns

Tunnel vision

The middle stays sharp. Everything around it quietly goes missing.

Typical visionWith tunnel vision
Moderate: a dark ring closes in around the point you look at. Move your pointer or finger to look around.

Type

Try it

Which bus is pulling in, and is it safe to cross yet?

What's happening

Tunnel vision is the loss of side (peripheral) vision while central sight survives. Because it usually starts at the edges and creeps inward slowly, many people don't notice until a large part is gone. That is why glaucoma is often called a silent thief of sight.

This simulation is for understanding and empathy. It is not a diagnosis and doesn't replace an eye examination.

What you might notice

Bumping into things

Door frames, table corners and people seem to come from nowhere.

Trouble in dim light

Dark rooms and night become much harder, especially with retinitis pigmentosa.

Losing moving things

Balls, cyclists and cars leave view faster than expected.

Reading still works

The centre can stay sharp, so other people may not believe anything is wrong.

Where it gets hard

  • Crossing a road, when a car approaches from the side.
  • Busy shops and stations, where people step into your path.
  • Driving, which in most countries requires a minimum field of vision.
  • Finding an object you've just put down on a table.

Often caused by

Conditions commonly linked to this pattern.

  • Glaucoma
  • Retinitis pigmentosa
  • Usher syndrome
  • Choroideremia
  • Optic nerve damage
  • Extensive laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy

Treatment and support

Lost field from glaucoma can't be restored, but lowering eye pressure with drops, laser or surgery can slow or stop further loss, which is why regular pressure and field checks matter so much. For inherited retinal disease, one gene therapy exists for a specific mutation (RPE65) and trials are running for others. Mobility training, a long cane and good lighting help people stay independent.

Looking for research you could join? Search ClinicalTrials.gov or the EU Clinical Trials register.

Get checked the same day if

A dark curtain or shadow spreads across your vision, or you get a painful red eye with blurred vision, halos and nausea.

If it's sudden or comes with other symptoms, go to an emergency department.

Where to learn more