Macular Degeneration Symptoms
Macular degeneration symptoms may not be evident initially, but your ophthalmologist may detect drusen in your retina and/or swelling or discoloration in the retinal pigment epithelium, a layer of tissue that lies beneath the retina.
Signs of Macular Degeneration1. Drusen are yellow or off-white deposits under the retina. Alone, they do not cause vision loss. However, an increase in the size and number of drusen does increase your risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here is a picture of drusen deposits.
2. Normally straight lines or objects appear wavy or bent
3. A blurry, dark or blank spot appears in the central portion of your vision 4. Difficulty distinguishing colors 5. Difficulty distinguishing detail, such as words in a book or faces. The Snellen chart is a chart that has been devised to measure visual acuity. 6. Flashing or strobing waves of light. These are the result of posterior vitreous detachments (PVD) which cause the misfiring of retinal nerve cells. They are usually not dangerous. 7. Experiencing double vision. Because AMD often affects both eyes, the eyes do not lose vision equally, making it difficult for the your eyes to determine its focal point. 8. Difficulty seeing at a distance Macular Degeneration Grid or Amsler GridYou may have heard of a macular degeneration grid or an Amsler grid. The Amsler Grid, is a grid of horizontal and vertical lines used to monitor a person's vision.
If you notice that any of the straight lines look like wavy lines, contact your ophthalmologist. It may indicate a problem with your retina, particularly the
macula,
the center of the retina.
Macular degeneration symptoms affect the straight-ahead or center of your vision, but not your peripheral vision. It is not blindness. You will not experience any pain with this vision loss, so you will not feel any changes. If a person has AMD in one eye and not the other, the good eye often compensates for any vision loss or distortion. Without regular eye exams, the change in vision may not be noticed until the second eye becomes affected. Anytime you have a sudden change in vision, such as: blurriness, distortions or a blank or empty spot, notify your ophthalmologist immediately. For More Information:
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