Retina
Macular degeneration
One of the top three blinding diseases —
don't dismiss it as just "aging eyes."
The macula is the central retinal area packed with photoreceptors
that distinguish colour and shape.
Macular degeneration deposits waste or grows
abnormal new vessels here, destroying the photoreceptors
and ultimately leading to blindness.
Main AMD symptoms
More than vision loss — watch for visual distortion.
Visual distortion
Centre of objects looks bent,
straight lines appear curved.
Central scotoma
A dark spot appears in the centre
of vision or an empty patch.
Reduced contrast
Colours look faint or hazy,
harder to see in bright light.
Sudden vision loss
Central vision drops sharply —
no more reading or driving.
Self-screening with the Amsler grid
Wear your usual glasses or lenses
and view the screen in a bright room.
Cover one eye and fix your gaze
on the centre dot from about 30 cm.
Keep your eyes on the dot
and notice how the surrounding lines look.
Mark any bent or broken lines
(repeat with the other eye).
