National Eye Institute: Glaucoma
The federal research agency for vision and eye health, offering plain-language patient information on every major eye condition.
Visit SiteWhat am I seeing?
Narrow field of view.
Your vision shrinks to a smaller, central area.
Darkened edges.
The outer parts of your vision fade or disappear.
Loss of awareness.
People or objects beside you may go unnoticed.
Difficulty navigating.
You may bump into things outside your direct line of sight.
“People seem to appear out of nowhere“
Tunnel Vision
What’s happening to vision?
This web experience is intended for educational and empathy-building purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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Tunnel vision, also known as peripheral vision loss, limits what you can see outside your direct line of sight. Instead of taking in a full scene, your vision narrows, like looking through a tunnel.
It can affect one or both eyes and may make it harder to move through spaces, notice your surroundings, or react to things happening around you.
What changes
Small things suddenly aren’t.
01
Movement feels uncertain:
Navigating crowds or tight spaces becomes challenging.
02
Driving becomes risky:
Side vision is critical for safe awareness on the road.
03
Crowded spaces overwhelm:
It's harder to track multiple things at once.
04
Vision feels restricted:
The world may feel smaller or more confined.
Conditions that cause this
What's behind this?
Many different conditions can affect the way you see. Here are some of the conditions commonly associated with this type of visual change.
- Conditions that may require urgent care.
- Glaucoma
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Retinal tear or detachment
- Optic neuritis
- Retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
- Retinal Detachment
Treatment & support
Can it be treated?
Treatment for tunnel vision depends on the underlying cause.
Some cases may improve with medication or surgery, especially if the condition is identified early. Glaucoma damage to the optic nerve, however, is generally irreversible, so treatment focuses on protecting the vision that remains, and inherited conditions like retinitis pigmentosa currently have no cure. In those cases, vision loss may be permanent.
When peripheral vision cannot be restored, eye care specialists can help people adapt with tools, training, and strategies to safely navigate their environment.
Clinical Trials
Explore ongoing research and trials that might be right for you.
Visit clinicaltrials.govResources & helpful links