An annual comprehensive eye exam should be part of your health routine. A trained eye care provider may conduct several tests to assess your risks or detect symptoms associated with macular degeneration.

One test to check for macular degeneration can be to view an Amsler Grid; if the lines appear wavy, distorted, or missing this could be an indicator.

Amsler Grid

The Amsler grid is a simple home vision test to detect metamorphopsia and scotoma associated with macular degeneration. Consisting of a square grid with a black dot in its center, individuals cover one eye while staring at it with another – checking whether any part appears blurry, wavy, missing, distorted or misshapen before consulting their ophthalmologist immediately if any areas appear misshapen; additionally their doctor may prescribe special vitamins that could slow progression of dry macular degeneration.

Amsler grids can be obtained from eye doctors, eye health centers and many pharmacies, usually printed on white paper with dotted lines measuring 0.5 cm squares and an 1 cm central dot. In addition, an electronic version is also available, which includes computer software that shows different positions and sizes of Amsler grids that can be downloaded for free from various websites.

Amsler grid tests should be regularly completed at home by those living with dry AMD to detect early changes that could signal wet AMD, but due to low sensitivity it should not replace regular eye exams.

Recent research demonstrated that the PHP vision screening device had greater sensitivity than Amsler grid for detecting visual distortions associated with AMD-related visual disorders. According to researchers, the PHP was capable of detecting macular lesions within 20 degrees of visual field and was also capable of distinguishing between neovascular and geographic atrophy in patients suffering wet AMD.

People living with dry AMD should seek to incorporate foods rich in antioxidants and nutrients into their diet, such as nuts or berries, into order to prevent retinal and macular tissue oxidative damage. Furthermore, those suffering from dry AMD should wear sunglasses and a hat when going outdoors and try staying indoors during times of bright sunlight; furthermore they should avoid smoking or taking certain medications which could worsen the condition.

Drusen

Macular degeneration begins when deposits known as drusen accumulate under the retina, typically over time due to ageing and often without causing vision loss; however, an increase in size or number indicates an increased risk for advanced AMD.

Clinical studies have demonstrated the value of regular eye exams by an experienced ophthalmologist to detect early signs of macular degeneration. An Amsler Grid can help detect distortions to straight lines that indicate when macular tissue starts breaking down; using it you can focus on one dot from approximately 1 foot away and compare it against other dots for any distortions – another indicator that your macular might be starting to degenerate.

Macular degeneration comes in two varieties – dry and wet. Eighty-five to ninety percent of cases fall under “dry” category where macula thins with age and forms small protein deposits known as drusen, leading to gradual loss of central vision but never blindness. Ten to fifteen percent of people suffering macular degeneration also experience abnormal blood vessels under retina leaking blood or fluid into macula (wet macular degeneration).

Wet macular degeneration (AMD) is more severe and can quickly lead to sudden vision loss. Wet AMD typically begins when the macula thins out and tiny drusen form; as disease progresses, fluid or blood leaks into the retina causing further vision impairment.

Studies have demonstrated that diets rich in vitamins C and E, beta carotene and zinc can slow the progression of macular degeneration. However, experts agree that to effectively lower your risk of advanced AMD, you need to have regular dilated eye exams with your eye doctor and adhere to their treatment recommendations.

There are effective treatments available for both wet and dry forms of macular degeneration. Anti-VEGF injections may reduce new abnormal blood vessels from developing, as well as any leakage of fluid from these blood vessels, while laser photocoagulation is often used to restore some lost vision.

Fluorescein Angiography

This test employs a blue light source to illuminate your retina after injecting sodium fluorescein dye into your body, which allows doctors to view and photograph areas where retinal circulation becomes leaky due to various diseases like wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or other eye inflammatory conditions. It’s an invaluable diagnostic tool in diagnosing serious eye conditions like vascular macular degeneration and macular edema.

Patient will be asked to sit while a camera takes pictures of their eye’s interior using special drops that widen pupil. In order to obtain optimal images, these drops take about 45 minutes to work so patients should bring something entertaining or educational during this time.

Once eyes have been dilated, a doctor will place an intravenous line and inject dye into an arm vein, taking digital photographs as it passes through blood vessels in retina and choroid. Watching how quickly or slowly dye fills or leaks from those vessels reveals abnormalities such as retinal artery or choroidal neovascularization (wet macular degeneration).

After taking initial photos, the doctor will administer larger quantities of dye in order to take later photographs. As it flows through normal blood vessels in the retina and choroid, some abnormal blood vessels will also form, which allows doctors to spot areas with late hyperfluorescence indicative of disease.

At this part of an exam, some individuals may experience nausea that usually subsides within seconds; in rare instances vomiting may occur. Be sure to inform the physician of any medications, supplements or herbs you are currently taking since the dye may interact with some of these. Be prepared for your urine turning yellow/orange soon after the test!

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a painless imaging test that provides cross-sectional views of retina. An ophthalmologist can use OCT scans to examine each layer of the retina and detect fluid accumulation or distortions that could indicate macular edema, for example. Furthermore, they’re fast and useful diagnostic tools.

OCT technology can also be used to detect early stages of cataracts and evaluate glaucoma patients, as well as evaluate optic nerve integrity in people living with diabetes and assist ophthalmologists with devising the optimal therapy plans and monitoring response to therapy for diabetic patients.

Ophthalmologists typically conduct periodic retinal exams to monitor any changes that might arise in the retina. Ophthalmologists must be able to track macular degeneration or other eye conditions that develop over time in order to accurately predict visual outcomes of procedures and make informed decisions about risks and benefits associated with any given decision.

OCT imaging can be particularly helpful in assessing macular structures of patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration, since it identifies fluid deposits that cannot be seen through biomicroscopy or fluorescein angiography. OCT can therefore guide treatment decisions such as antiangiogenic drug prescribing or surgical options.

Individuals planning cataract surgery using multifocal intraocular lenses should obtain OCT prior to beginning the procedure, to help ensure all pathologies associated with their macula are identified and prevent surprises after surgery – such as experiencing reduced near vision.

OCT can also be used to assess eligibility for eye surgery such as penetrating keratoplasty or Nd-YAG capsulotomy. OCT provides invaluable data about patient vision potential after these procedures, helping patient counseling staff manage expectations more effectively, and is recommended by the American Academy of Ophthalmology as part of a standard regiment of evaluation prior to having such procedures done.