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A diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) must be made by a healthcare professional. Early detection is critical to ensure optimal benefit from treatment.
Regular eye exams are the key to early detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends a routine eye exam every 2 to 4 years for people aged 40 to 64; every 1 to 2 years for people aged 65 and older.
But patients themselves are also important to the detection of AMD, which may "announce" itself suddenly, especially in its "wet" (more severe) form. Regular at-home monitoring of your vision with an Amsler Grid can help you spot trouble early.
Possible warning signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Call your eyecare specialist right away if you experience 1 or more of the following:
- Lines or edges that appear wavy or distorted;
- Blurring of faces and difficulty seeing colors;
- Dark or empty spaces that block the center of your vision;
- Difficulty with tasks such as reading fine print or reading road signs from a moving vehicle;
- Difficulty seeing at a distance or during twilight hours.
Click here for a simulated view of sight affected by wet AMD.
Procedures used to diagnose AMD
Many patients with "dry" age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have no symptoms. To aid in diagnosis, an exam is given using an ophthalmoscope, a device that lights up the inside of the eye and enlarges the image. This allows for the detection of both early and later signs of AMD.
Your eyecare professional may also give you a diagnostic test called a fluorescein angiogram. This procedure is key to the diagnosis and treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in which abnormal blood vessels grow in or under the retina. A fluorescein angiogram allows the eyecare specialist to pinpoint the location and extent of abnormal blood vessel growth, also called choroidal neovascularization.
In this test, a special dye is injected into a vein in the patient's arm. Pictures are taken as the dye passes through the vessels in the retina. These photos help to identify leaking blood vessels.
Awareness: the best defense
Important as these diagnostic tools are, they're only part of the story. Awareness of warning signs, together with ongoing monitoring of your vision and regular eye exams, remains the best defense against vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
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Related pages on this site:
15 Frequently Asked Questions About AMD
Treatment Overview
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