If you have been diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, an eye care specialist may provide you with a grid to help monitor your vision at home and detect problems such as wavy lines or missing sections of the grid. This tool may allow for early detection of problems like these as well as helping detect issues like missing sections on the grid or gaps between rows or columns of text.

A checkerboard-like grid, you should place yourself approximately 14 inches from it and cover one eye while staring directly at the black dot at its center.

The Amsler Grid

People diagnosed with dry or wet macular degeneration typically receive an Amsler grid – a card, sheet of paper or computer program with squares arranged into grids with dots in the centers – to monitor vision between eye exams. Its purpose is to detect any distortions or wavy lines which might signal worsening macular degeneration early on so doctors can diagnose it early and begin treatment as quickly as possible.

An Amsler grid can be easily used at home and is simple to operate, making it recommended that it is used at least weekly as part of your eye care regime. If any straight lines on your Amsler grid appear wavy or missing, contact your eye care practitioner immediately – early detection of changes could indicate early signs of wet AMD (which progresses into more serious forms) which should not be ignored.

To properly test your eyes, hold an Amsler grid 14 inches away while wearing your reading glasses if usual. Cover one eye at a time while gazing directly at the dot in the center of the grid while slowly shifting your head so as to see how each eye views the grid – looking out for any wavy or bent lines, as well as dark or empty spots in its pattern; should this happen then contact an eye care provider immediately and schedule an eye exam appointment.

Another method for testing vision is having a specialist use a device which provides digital pictures of the retina – this method has proven much more accurate in detecting early signs of wet AMD than using Amsler grids or standard eye charts.

Standard white Amsler grid testing may detect relative scotomas, but its sensitivity cannot compare to threshold Amsler grid testing that utilizes two cross-polarizing filters to create low luminance conditions. A recent study demonstrated that threshold Amsler grids were far more accurate at detecting wavy patterns in the central visual field (which are key areas to check for wet AMD) than regular white or red Amsler grids.

How to Use the Grid

Although an Amsler grid should not replace professional eye exams conducted by optometrists, it can provide useful data about Macular Degeneration symptoms and may indicate when treatment may be necessary. We suggest performing the test at least once weekly and taking note of any changes to its appearance; this will enable your optometrist to detect problems early and potentially slow the progression of disease.

To use the grid effectively, place it 12-14 inches from your face in an adequately lit room. If you wear glasses, keep them on during assessment. Cover one eye while using the other to focus directly on the center dot on the grid. Examine for any wavy lines, dark areas or missing sections on your grid – if these exist contact an optometrist immediately!

If you have been diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, it is vital to regularly use an Amsler grid to assess the condition. Failure to monitor could result in wet AMD progressing quickly – early detection and prompt treatment can delay complications such as fluid leakage from retinal blood vessels and further worsen your vision.

The Amsler grid is used to detect distortion and wavy lines that indicate wet macular degeneration. People with normal vision will perceive straight lines; people living with wet macular degeneration often see grids that appear wavy or blurry instead. Some may also detect dark patches within their grid.

Amsler grid should be observed individually with each eye and results should be recorded for each. If either eye reveals an irregular or dark grid, make an appointment with your eye doctor immediately as these symptoms could indicate wet macular degeneration (WMD). Other tests used to diagnose WMD include optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography; during OCT, laser scans scan across your retina in cross section to provide high-resolution images that reveal any abnormalities like fluid accumulation associated with WMD.

Results of the Grid Test

Your doctor will use an Amsler grid to evaluate your eyes for signs of macular degeneration. If any lines appear wavy or miss patches, immediately notify your physician so he or she can address it as early as possible and help slow its progression.

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that damages the macula of your retina, the area responsible for reading, driving, working on computers or smartphones, recognising faces and colors, enjoying fine detail vision and fine reading skills. Macular degeneration typically only impacts central vision while your side and peripheral vision remains relatively untouched; symptoms of macular degeneration include blurry or loss of central vision as well as distortion in straight lines; early forms called dry age-related macular degeneration could include drusen and pigment clumping causing central vision loss due to dry age-related macular degeneration causing central vision clarity loss over time causing further impairment of central vision clarity loss in which case your doctor could find that dry age-related macular degeneration causes your central vision loss altogether compared with age-related macular degeneration causing it clumping causes central vision loss by creating blurring or distortion and this early form being unaffected; peripheral vision usually remains unaffected as side vision remains unaffected while peripherally; it typically leaves peripheral and peripheral vision unaffected when this form occurs as your central vision diminishes leaving most sides unaffected and often unaffected, usually unaffected while side and peripheral vision remains unaffected compared with per se; symptoms include loss, distortion of straight lines distortion as well as distortion as distortion; however drusen formation caused by pigment clumping to diminish clarity while in its entirety causing it.

As macular degeneration progresses, small blood vessels that nourish the macula may begin leaking or bleeding and cause distortion to vision. If these blood vessels break off from their support structure and bleed onto other areas, you could experience sudden rapid loss of straight-ahead vision. Wet macular degeneration is less prevalent but often more serious than Dry AMD; when abnormal new blood vessels arise underneath your macula they may leak or bleed as well and accelerate vision loss much more rapidly than its counterpart.

Your eye doctor can detect wet macular degeneration with the fundus fluorescein angiography test. In this procedure, an harmless orange-red dye is injected into a vein in your arm and travels throughout your body until being reflected off blood vessels behind the eye, helping your doctor identify leaky or bleeding new blood vessels in your macula.

Prevent or delay wet macular degeneration through healthy diet, avoidance of smoking and regular physical exercise, taking eye vitamins daily and taking any prescribed combinations that have proven effective at slowing or delaying its onset in studies conducted so far. Studies have also indicated that certain combination supplements can significantly slow the onset of wet macular degeneration while even improving vision in some patients.

Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration causes you to struggle with activities like driving, reading, and seeing faces or objects close up. Macular degeneration destroys a central area of the retina known as the macula; this small spot near the center of each eye may progress to early, intermediate, or advanced stages over time.

At first, you will experience an increase in lighting needs when viewing objects or reading, with straight ahead vision becoming blurry or distorted. Later, scotomas may develop in your central vision making it harder to see clearly.

Your optometrist will use an Amsler grid to assess your central vision for signs of macular degeneration. Based on how the grid lines appear to you, your eye doctor can quickly ascertain if you’re suffering from dry age-related macular degeneration or wet AMD (more severe form).

Macular degeneration most frequently takes the form of dry macular degeneration, where deposits called drusen appear beneath your retina and cause your central vision to become blurry and hazy. Drusen is often an indicator that wet macular degeneration could follow.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under your retina and release fluid into your macula, damaging its tissues and leading to sudden vision loss. Ten percent of people suffering from AMD experience wet macular degeneration as the most serious form.

With an Amsler grid and your own observations, early macular degeneration detection and treatment is possible. If your vision is deteriorating, make an appointment at Vistasite Eye Care of Kings Plaza Mall today to have a comprehensive eye exam – call our office or book one online to schedule one now.