Amsler Grid Eye Test

What is the Amsler grid eye test?

The Amsler grid is a visual testing tool that makes it easier for you to see distortions in your vision from conditions that affect your retinas. It’s also sometimes known as the Amsler eye chart. This chart is a 10-centimeter by 10-centimeter square grid. Each side of the grid has 20 cells, and there’s a circular dot marking the grid’s center.

The Amsler grid eye test helps you see vision distortions (metamorphopsia) that can happen if you have certain conditions affecting your macula. The Amsler grid also helps you show an eye care specialist where the distortions are in your visual field. That lets them know where the problem is on your macula.

Eye specialists commonly recommend that people with certain retinal conditions use an Amsler grid daily. Doing so can help you see changes in your vision that may quickly turn into permanent vision loss.

When is the Amsler grid eye test used?

The Amsler eye grid test can help with diagnosing and monitoring any condition that could distort the surface of the macula. That includes:

• Macular degeneration (both the dry and wet types).
• Central serous retinopathy.
• Conditions that make new blood vessels form (neovascularization) in certain areas of your eye.
• Blind spots (scotomas).
• Macular pucker (epiretinal membrane).
• Cystoid macular edema.
• Diabetes-related macular edema.
• Pituitary gland tumors (these cause bilateral hemianopia, which is vision loss in the left half of your left eye and the right half of your right eye).
• Injury-related damage to the macula.
• Other retinal diseases or retina-related causes of sudden vision loss.

Experts can also use the Amsler grid as a screening tool to check for issues with your macula before you undergo cataract surgery.