{"id":19837,"date":"2021-11-03T10:23:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T10:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=19837"},"modified":"2021-11-03T10:25:12","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T10:25:12","slug":"what-is-a-macular-degeneration-eye-exam","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-a-macular-degeneration-eye-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Macular Degeneration Eye Exam?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>In the early stages, macular degeneration may not present with noticeable symptoms\u2014 a comprehensive eye exam is the only way to detect this serious condition.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Eye exams aren\u2019t just to check your eyesight, they\u2019re an integral part of maintaining eye health, so you can enjoy a life of clear vision.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/\">Annual eye exams<\/a> allow your doctor to detect changes in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-health\/how-does-the-eye-work\/eye-anatomy-the-back-of-the-eye\/\">retina and macula<\/a>\u2014 facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/macular-degeneration-guide\/\">macular degeneration (AMD)<\/a>, along with other sight-threatening eye diseases.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The following tests may be conducted during an eye exam to identify any structural or visual changes:<\/p>\n<h2><b>Amsler grid<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>An Amsler grid contains straight black lines with a large dot in the center.<\/p>\n<p>The eye doctor will ask you to look at the black dot and point out any irregularities on the grid, such as black spots, or lines that appear:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Blurry<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Wavy<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Broken<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Faded<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Fractured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Dilated eye exam<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Dilating your eyes with drops allows your doctor to more easily and efficiently inspect the back of your eye, where the retina and macula, the center of the retina, are located.<\/p>\n<p>Using a slit lamp with high magnification, your doctor will look for drusen, yellowish deposits that grow beneath the retina. These deposits create a speckled appearance and are often the first signs of AMD.<\/p>\n<p>Other retinal irregularities may include pigment changes, abnormal blood vessels or fluid leakage within the macula.<\/p>\n<p><b>For a comprehensive macula examination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">schedule a visit with an eye doctor near you.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>SEE RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/the-importance-of-pupil-exams\/\">The Importance of Pupil Exams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Digital retinal imaging (DRI)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>Digital retinal imaging<\/b> <b>has become a vitally important test, used for early detection of retinal diseases.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-a-digital-retinal-image\/\">Digital retinal imaging<\/a>, also known as a retinal photograph, is a non-invasive diagnostic tool used for early detection of retinal diseases. This imaging technique produces high resolution, colored images of the retina, optic nerve, and blood vessels located in the back of the eye.<\/p>\n<p>With DRI, your doctor can more easily detect and track changes to your ocular health and vision.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Optical coherence tomography (OCT)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-an-oct-eye-exam\/\">OCT<\/a> is a non-invasive imaging tool that produces detailed 3D, cross-sectional images of the retina.<\/p>\n<p>These 3D full color images are very effective in picking up the earliest signs of retinal and macula changes, before most other devices. These images can detect thinning, thickening or swelling of the macula and retina, caused by leaking blood vessels in and under the retina.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Fluorescein angiography (FA)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/eye-exams\/what-is-fluorescein-angiography\/\">Fluorescein angiography (FA)<\/a> is a diagnostic test used for early detection of AMD,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-diabetes-and-the-eyes\/why-does-diabetes-cause-blurry-vision\/a-deeper-understanding-of-diabetic-retinopathy\/\"> diabetic retinopathy<\/a> and other retinal conditions.<\/p>\n<p>During this test, fluorescent dye is injected into a vein in the arm. As the dye flows through the blood vessels in the eye, any irregularities are highlighted by the dye.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, a unique camera captures images to help further identify any abnormalities within the blood vessels or retina.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA)<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), similar to FA, involves an injected dye, and is often used in conjunction with FA to pinpoint the type of macular degeneration detected.<\/p>\n<p>The ICGA is used to examine the blood flow in the choroid, the layer under the retina, and provides a better understanding of the health of these sub-retinal blood vessels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-exams\/\">Guide to Eye Exams<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>For a comprehensive macula examination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\">schedule a visit with an eye doctor near you.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i>Eye exams aren\u2019t just for identifying refractive errors, they can also check for eye diseases, such as macular degeneration (AMD).\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The earlier AMD is detected, the greater your chances of preserving your clear vision and enjoying the best quality of life.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the early stages, macular degeneration may not present with noticeable symptoms\u2014 a comprehensive eye exam is the only way to detect this serious condition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1206,"featured_media":19838,"parent":304,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19837","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is a Macular Degeneration Eye Exam? 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