Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the #1 cause of blindness among Senior Citizens. Because the Baby Boomers are now becoming seniors, vision loss from macular degeneration is a growing problem. About 1.75 million Americans have ARMD now and it’s projected that it might affect 3 million Americans by 2020. Approximately 300,000 will become legally blind.
Early macular degeneration might not effect a persons vision, but as the disease progresses patients may note distortions in their central (straight-ahead) vision. An Amsler Grid is used to help note and record those distortions.
Wear your reading glasses and lean forward so your eye is about a foot from the screen.
Close your left eye and stare at the central black dot in the center of the grid.
Note if any of the grid lines are wavy. Are there areas where the grid lines seem to dissapear?
Repeat with the left eye.
If any distortions are noted, please make an appointment with Dr. Steensma.
Further testing and evaluation should be done as soon as possible.