How Does Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Affect Vision?
Symptoms of AMD
Your eye care specialist is likely to see signs of macular degeneration before you are aware of any loss of vision. When you do start experiencing vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, symptoms can include:- Blurred or “fuzzy” vision
- Straight lines, such as sentences on a page, appearing wavy or distorted
- Blurry areas on a printed page
- Difficulty reading or seeing details in low light levels
- Extra sensitivity to glare
Some Simulations of Vision Loss from AMD
Here are some simulations of how individuals with vision loss from age-related macular degeneration would see various scenes. They were created by David J. Marmor, MFA and Michael F. Marmor, MD, and published in Archives of Ophthalmology, 2010; 128:117-125. (Used with permission.) The top image shows the photo a camera would take; the middle image shows what someone with full vision would see (as we see clearly only in the very center of our vision, what we are looking directly at); and the bottom image shows how someone with vision loss from age-related macular degeneration would see it.

