Macular Degeneration Test
Visual Acuity Test
A macular degeneration eye exam includes several different tests. The first test in a comprehensive eye exam is a Visual Acuity Test.This test simply tests for the sharpness of your vision. The most common one being the Snellen chart which is the familiar white chart with black letters. How often you should have a general eye exam depends on your age, if you currently wear prescription glasses and if you have any eye diseases or other health conditions.
Macular Degeneration Grid orAmsler Grid
The Amsler Grid is a macular degeneration test that checks for any distortion or wavy lines, which are symptoms of macular degeneration. A person with normal vision will see all straight lines.
A person with wet macular degeneration sees something like this illustration - the lines are wavy and distorted. They may also see a "hole" in the middle of the macular degeneration grid. The doctor is assessing the macula (the center of the retina) when testing your vision using the Amsler Grid. A patient diagnosed with dry or wet macular degeneration should have an Amsler grid at home to monitor their vision. If any changes are noticed, notify your doctor right away. Find out how to get a free Macular Degeneration Grid and get instructions on how to use this macular degeneration test to check your vision: ForeseeHome Monitoring ProgramThe ForeseeHome Monitoring Program uses a technologically advanced device that can detect vision changes much earlier than one can with an Amsler Grid.Research has shown that this FDA approved program resulted in earlier detection of symptoms that are associated with the development of wet macular degeneration. Find out more about how this device works, who is a candidate for home monitoring and how the information get's sent right to your retina doctor: Retina Examination wih Dilated Pupils
The drops take about 20-40 minutes to work - but it takes about 4 hours to wear off. Bring sunglasses to wear for your drive home and remember that you may not be able to read for a couple of hours. Here is a picture from the National Eye Institute showing the difference in what an eye professional can see with and without pupil dilation:
After your pupils are dilated, the physician has you sit at a device called a slit lamp. The slit lamp provides a magnified image of the structures of the eye which helps with a thorough evaluation to detect signs of infection or disease. When used with special lenses, the slit lamp gives the examiner a highly magnified view of the retina. Fundus PhotographyThis is when the examiner will look for drusen. A camera can be attached to the slit lamp to take photos of your retina. Drusen are small yellow or off-white deposits that form in the tissue layer underneath the retina.The appearance of drusen near the macula is one of the most common early signs of macular degeneration. It does not necessarily mean that you have macular degeneration, but it does mean that the eye is at risk for developing AMD. Drusen can be present in the eye for years without affecting your vision. Drusen that develop away from the macula usually do not indicate the development of macular degeneration. Here is a picture of an eye care professional taking pictures of the retina after dilation. Credit: National Eye Institute
The examiner will also look for other areas of the retina that might appear abnormal such as, the retina appears raised bleeding or fluid behind the retina. These signs would suggest
choroidal neovascularization
(CNV)or wet macular degeneration. In these cases, further testing may be necessary.
Fluorescein AngiogramFluorescein angiography is a macular degeneration test that is most useful in diagnosing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or wet macular degeneration.
A dye is injected into an arm vein which then travels through your blood stream to your eye. You may get a warm feeling or experience a hot flush. This only lasts seconds and then disappears. Photos of the retina are then taken over a period of about 60 seconds as the dye enters the vessels at the back of your eye. The ophthalmologist can see if the dye leaks from any of the vessels to determine if and where new and fragile blood vessels have developed. To read more about this macular degeneration test click here: Fluorescein Angiogram Genetic Testing
Did you know that a genetic test is available for those at high risk for developing age related macular degeneration?Dr. Edward Paul, a low vision optometrist with a specialty in Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) tells us if you should be tested, what is involved and what this test will tell you. Macular Pigment Density TestingMeasuring the density of the macular pigment provides important information about one's risk of developing age related macular degeneration.Low Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD) is a key risk factor for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). QuantifEye is a scientifically-proven instrument that measures Macular Pigment Optical Density (MPOD). Find out more about this macular degeneration test, who should have it and what to do if you test low for MPOD:
Macular Pigment Density Test
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