The Amsler grid for macular degeneration
The grid is the standard home check for people with age-related macular degeneration. Its job is to catch dry turning into wet.
Updated November 13, 2026 · General information, not medical advice.
Why people with macular degeneration use the grid
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms. Dry AMD is the common form and usually changes slowly. Wet AMD starts when new blood vessels grow under the macula and leak. It can take central vision within weeks, but injections that stop the leaking work well when started early.
Dry AMD can turn into wet AMD at any time, in either eye, and the first sign is often a small distortion that is easy to miss with both eyes open. A regular check of each eye with the grid is a way to catch that sign between appointments.
What the grid can look like
- Early and intermediate dry AMD. Often normal. Some people notice slightly blurred or faint areas.
- Wet AMD. Wavy or bent lines, a blurry patch, or a gray or dark spot near the center, often appearing over days.
- Advanced dry AMD (geographic atrophy). One or more blank or dim areas that grow slowly over months or years.
Pictures are in the distortion examples.
Mild distortion with macular degeneration
A mild distortion, such as one line with a slight bend, should be reported just as quickly as a strong one. In wet AMD the amount of distortion at the start says little about how fast it will progress. If you already have a known mild distortion, your task is to watch for change: mark it on the grid so that you can compare.
How to monitor
- Test each eye separately, wearing reading glasses, at 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 cm).
- Test as often as your doctor advises. For AMD that is usually every day. See how often to test.
- Record what you see. The online test saves each result and tells you whether it differs from the last one.
- Call your eye doctor right away about any change.
Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment if the grid changes. Call the same day.
What the grid will not catch
Home grid checks miss a share of new wet AMD. In a 2023 analysis of ten studies, the grid picked up about two thirds of eyes with wet AMD. That is why regular exams with retinal scans stay essential, and why some doctors add other home monitoring for patients at high risk. See how accurate is the Amsler grid?
Other things worth doing
Ask your eye doctor about the steps known to matter in AMD: not smoking, the AREDS2 vitamin formula if you have intermediate AMD, and keeping every follow-up appointment. Those decisions belong with your doctor, who knows your eyes.