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Amsler grid test online
Check your central vision for wavy, blurred or missing areas with the Amsler grid, the chart eye doctors give people at risk of macular degeneration.
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A screening aid, not a diagnosis. Screens, lighting and distance affect results. If something looks wrong, or your vision changes suddenly, see an eye-care professional. Medical disclaimer
What the Amsler grid shows
The Amsler grid is a square of evenly spaced lines with a dot in the middle. While you look at the dot, the grid falls on the macula, the small central part of the retina that gives you sharp detail vision for reading and recognizing faces.
When the macula is damaged, straight lines can look bent or wavy (metamorphopsia), and patches can look blurred, grey or missing. The brain fills in gaps, so people often don’t notice these changes in everyday life. Testing one eye at a time stops the stronger eye from hiding a problem in the weaker one.
Who should use it
- Anyone over 50, especially with a family history of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- People diagnosed with dry or wet AMD
- People with diabetes or high nearsightedness, who are more likely to have retinal problems
What to do with your result
If the grid looks normal, keep checking regularly. If you notice distortion for the first time, or a change from last time, contact an eye doctor promptly. Sudden distortion or a dark spot is an urgent symptom because wet AMD can be treated, and treatment works best when it starts early.
Questions people ask
How often should I use an Amsler grid?
Eye doctors often suggest once a week, or daily if you have intermediate or advanced AMD in one eye. Use it at the same distance and in the same light each time so changes stand out.
What does a wavy line on the grid mean?
It can mean the light-sensing layer at the center of the retina has been pushed up or distorted, for example by fluid from wet AMD. New distortion should be seen by an eye doctor promptly.
Can I use it with glasses?
Yes. Wear your reading glasses or the glasses you use for close work.