An automated perimeter (Fieldmaster 5000) was used to measure the central 30 degrees of vision with static targets (suprathresholding with quantification of defects) and the peripheral visual field with two kinetic stimuli in 599 eyes of 362 patients with glaucoma or a suspicion of glaucoma. The purpose of the study was to compare the additional information gained by measuring the peripheral visual field with two isopters against the time required for this extra examination. The peripheral visual field supported the diagnosis made by central testing in approximately one fourth of all eyes and added additional diagnostic information in another quarter of the cases. In 7% of the total population, or 11% of eyes with abnormal fields, a normal central field was associated with a glaucomatous peripheral defect. Half of the latter eyes had corresponding glaucomatous optic disc changes. The more sensitive isopter uncovered the vast majority of the peripheral field defects. Measurement of each isopter accounted for 22% of the total testing time.