Macular Degeneration: How is it Evaluated?

The evaluation for macular degeneration will begin with a full eye exam. Close up and distance vision will be tested, and the practitioner will check to see if changing the glasses will improve your sight. Then your pupils will be dilated so the doctor can evaluate your retina. This involves the use of several eye drops that cause your pupil to open more widely. Looking into the eye at the retina is like trying to see into a room through a keyhole. The larger the keyhole, the more you can see. In the same way, the doctor can see more of the area inside your eye if your pupil is dilated.

If macular degeneration is detected, the doctor may order a special dye test called a fluorescein angiogram. In this test, a special dye is injected into a vein in the arm or hand. Then pictures are taken of the retina as the dye enters the blood vessels inside the eye. This allows the physician to evaluate blood flow in the retina and especially the macula. The condition of the tissue is also apparent. This test is important in evaluating the disease’s progress over a period of time, as well as in selecting treatment options.