Alternative to the Amsler Grid for AMD

[Engineer46]

When you are first diagnosed with AMD you may be shown an Amsler Grid - an array of horizontal and vertical lines - and asked to describe what you see, basically how straight are the lines and where are they most bent.

I found that it was practically impossib le to describe what you see with any accuracy, because if you move your eyes to better image part of the grid, the bends in the lines also move position. So I developed a simpler version, which is just one horizontal and one vertical line, as attached to this post.

Using each eye in turn, keep your gaze fixed on the intersection, note any deviation in the horizontal and vertical lines and write down or draw what you see. Ignore any deviation that you may see in your peripheral vision, just concentrate on the central area.

In general, the worse your condition is, the greater the deviation will be from the straight lines.

One interesting point. I have wet AMD in both eyes and for vertical lines my right eye shows a deviation to the left and my left eye shows a deviation to the right. However, using both eyes, vertical lines appear to be vertical with no deviation - the brain has deduced that both eyes are seeing the same straight line. Horizontal lines are another story though, made worse by my use of varifocal lenses which already distort horizontal lines.

Paul

[Joysad]

Fascinating - will try it over a period of time. I have wet AMD in both eyes; the left has improved with Eylea injections but have only (I thought) peripheral vision in my right although it is now stable. With this grid I have a tiny central hole of vision as well as the peripheral vision in my right eye. I think it will definitely be easier to monitor changes. Thank you.

[Dinks]

Should you do this test with no spectacles on

[Engineer46 in reply to Dinks]

Best to do it in whichever way enables you to see the lines most clearly.

[RP1944 in reply to Dinks]

I did it without specs.

[cormorin]

Hello thanks for that. Tried today & much easier than the grid to use. Only deviation was the bottom half of the vertical line but that may just be my double vision. Always worth trying something that helps. Thanks again 👍

[RP1944]

Just tried it out. Right eye fine, sees as it is, left eye(with AMD) wavy bottom line.That’s a great idea and easy to use. Thank you.x

[Colleen1974]

Love this. I have myopic md in my right eye and had severe distortion when the bleed happened. I had no idea what any of it was including the Amsler Grid. After the first shot I have been fine but I still like to check things with the grid. I will use this in the future.

[JJnan]

Good idea ..thank you x

[GrannySmithgs5]

Brilliant thank you , what would be the significance of seeing two lines on the vertical and horizontal ?

[Engineer46 in reply to GrannySmithgs5]

Try each eye separately with and without specs. I get a secondary image that is more of a shadow and that is much reduced when wearing my specs. It may be created by the retinal distortion caused by AMD. It can also be exaggerated by varifocal glasses which show a doubled line that is more obvious in the out-of-focus part of the image, for example the top part of the glasses when you are looking at your phone.

Paul

[GrannySmithgs5]

Thank you Paul

[bel9mex]

What an interesting alternative! I have wet AMD in both eyes but, left eye - caught early - has been stable for about 5 years, thankfully. Right eye was already advanced when diagnosed but Lucentis/Eyelea injections were helping to stop further damage when, after 7 years, treatment stopped working about 3 years ago so vision in that eye now is one big blur! Makes looking out of both eyes at once a real problem. Am keen to keep tabs on sight in left (“good”) eye so using Amsler grid to monitor. I will be using your version. Many thanks for sharing.

[KetherS]

Thank you I have always found the grid difficult to use. I noticed a deterioration when viewing the cross window pane grid on one of the house doors. I'm sure this alternative will be very helpful for many people including myself.

[Kelly_macularsociety]

Good morning,

As the Amsler Grid was developed and is still recommended for use by eye care professionals, The Macular Society would advise the Amsler Grid should still be used to monitor vision at home.

Warm regards,

Kelly

Kelly Ephgrave

Advice and Information Service Administrator

Macular Society

Tel [phone]

macularsociety.org

[Engineer46 in reply to Kelly_macularsociety]

Kelly,

Thank you for the response.

I am sure that many wet AMD sufferers find the Amsler Grid helpful in monitoring the progress of their condition.

However, I have 12 years of injection history and my doctors never used it in their clinics. I personally found it of limited value at home for spotting progression or improvement. It is hard to describe what you see without moving your gaze from the central spot and it is difficult to draw what you see. The responses to my post suggest that my experience is not uncommon.

I would also suggest that AMD sufferers can monitor their condition by looking at any common vertical or horizontal lines, such as lampposts and door frames, using each eye in turn, noting the deviation from the straight line.

The Amsler Grid is a useful tool in the right hands, but it is not the only way to monitor Wet AMD.

Best wishes,

Paul