Since Macular Degeneration is painless and can cause very subtle changes in vision, getting regular exams from an eye care professional is the only way it can be diagnosed. One of the earliest changes seen in Macular Degeneration is distortion of straight lines. This is a serious change and should be evaluated by your eye care professional immediately. It's important to schedule regular eye exams at least once a year and to see your doctor immediately if you notice any change in your vision. When you make an appointment to see your eye care professional, ask if they test for Macular Degeneration.

If drusen or other early signs of Macular Degeneration are present, you doctor may ask you to use an Amsler Grid to monitor your vision. The Amsler Grid is a simple test that can effectively identify changes in your vision. To get an idea of how it works, take a look at the Amsler Grid examples below.

  

To be effective, follow your eye care professional's instruction on how to correctly use the Amsler Grid.

If your doctor suspects Wet Macular Degeneration, a specialized test called fluorescein angiography (FA) may be done. To do this test, a special dye called fluorescein is injected into a vein in the arm. This dye will travel throughout the body, including the eyes. Black and white photos are then taken of the back of the eye. If an abnormal blood vessel is present, it will fill with the dye and can be seen on the photos. Your doctor will use this test to guide treatment; therefore, it may need to be repeated before any future treatments. Your doctor may also take color photographs of your retina for comparison at future visits.

It is important to remember that even in severe cases of Macular Degeneration, patients do not lose their peripheral vision. These patients often learn to use their peripheral vision to look slightly off-center to make out details. There are also special vision aids that can assist people with severe vision loss. Your eye care professional can help.