Macular Degeneration Test

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) may not have any noticeable symptoms in its earliest stages. AMD can be detected during a dilated eye exam that includes a visual acuity test, tonometry, and other tests that assess the health of your eyes.

Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading ophthalmology practice in Berks County. Our nationally recognized team of board-certified, fellowship-trained retinal specialists has extensive experience in a wide variety of eye diseases and conditions, including AMD.

Our Team of Specialists

Barry C. Malloy, MD graduated from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and completed his vitreoretinal fellowship at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

Michael Cusick, MD graduated from Georgetown University and completed a medical and surgical vitreoretinal fellowship at the Duke Eye Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Anastasia Traband, MD graduated from Philadelphia’s Jefferson Medical College  and completed her vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at the renowned Scheie Eye Institute.

Drs. Malloy, Cusick and Traband specialize in vitreoretinal disorders, including macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, retinal detachment, macular edema and other conditions that affect the retina, and they have many years of experience in the most current treatments.

How is AMD Detected?

Macular degeneration is detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional then uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of AMD and other eye problems. Tests include:

  • Visual Acuity Test: A visual acuity test is an eye chart test that measures how well you see at various distances.
  • Amsler Grid: An Amsler Grid is a chart with lines and a dot at the center. If you have macular degeneration, some of the straight lines in the grid will look faded, wavy or missing.
  • Fluorescein Angiogram Test:If your eye care professional believes you may an advanced form of AMD (Wet AMD), he or she may perform this test to identify leaking blood vessels in your eye and recommend treatment.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration usually produces a gradual loss of vision without pain or discomfort. In some individuals, AMD advances so slowly that vision loss does not occur for a long time. In others, the disease may cause a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes.

The symptoms of AMD include:

  • Blurred or distorted vision
  • Dark area in the center of your field of vision
  • Normally straight lines appear wavy or bent
  • Difficulty reading or seeing details in low light
  • Decreased intensity or brightness of colors
  • Difficulty recognizing faces
  • Extra sensitivity to glare and bright lights

Macular degeneration may affect one eye and not the other. There is no cure for the disease, but early detection and treatment may help slow its progression.

If you believe you may have symptoms of macular degeneration, make an appointment with Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania for a dilated eye examination and test as soon as possible. We have five convenient locations in Wyomissing, Pottsville, Pottstown, Lebanon and Blandon.

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