1. A method of detecting visual field defects in a patient, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an illuminated object having a substantially consistent or regular pattern on a substantially homogeneous background for viewing by the patient; (b) then separately for each eye, one at a time, fixing the luminance of the object as perceived by the patient so that the object is barely visible by the patient, and having the patient record the presence of any visual field defects observed through the one eye viewing the object.