Answers to the questions below help your doctor determine whether you might have a macular problem, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
- Have you found that you need more light to read than you have in the past?
- Is it getting harder to recognize people's faces until they are close up?
- Do bright colors appear dim or faded?
- Is there is a "blind" spot in the center of your vision? How long have you had the blind spot?
- Do straight lines look wavy? Do objects appear distorted or smaller than they used to?
- How quickly have these changes in your vision developed? Over several months or weeks? A few days? A few hours?
- Have changes affected just one eye or both?
- Do you smoke? (Smoking increases your risk of AMD.)
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Has anyone else in your family had macular degeneration?
- Are you taking any medicines? Which ones? (Certain medicines can cause temporary vision problems.)
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Carol L. Karp, MD - Ophthalmology |
| Last Updated | August 13, 2007 |



