Are There Special Tests to Diagnose Macular Degeneration?
Yes. Your doctor will examine your eyes with special lenses to view the interior of the eye through the pupil. Other tests for macular degeneration include: Acuity Tests: this test measures the accuracy of your central vision at specific distances in specific lighting situations. Amsler Grid Test: this test checks for blind spots, loss of sight and distortion. Color Testing: this can help determine the status of your cone cells which are the cells located in the macula and are the retinal cells that interpret color. Fluorescein Angiogram Test: a dye is injected in the vein of your arm and then photos are taken of the retina and the macula in order to identify new blood vessel growth and leakage from blood vessels. Optical Coherence Tonography (OCT): this test takes a cross section photo of the layers in the back of the eye. It is very beneficial to see if there is swelling, abnormal blood vessels or scar tissue in the macula.
