Macular Degeneration Diagnosis & Testing

Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) is a noninvasive imaging technique that utilizes the body’s natural fluorescence to examine the retina.

Doctors can use this technique to monitor the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and lipofuscin (pigment accumulating from the metabolic waste in the RPE) that emit light when exposed to specific wavelengths. In dry macular degeneration, the RPE layer of the retina thins, eventually causing the death of light-sensitive cells and leading to visual impairment. This process, called geographic atrophy, occurs in the advanced stage of dry macular degeneration.

The doctor dilates the pupils with eye drops to view the back of your retina. Dilation allows the doctor to study the retina for signs of disease and to determine if there is optic nerve damage.

After dilating the pupil, the doctor aims a bright beam of light into the eye to check for problems.

This test measures your sight from various distances.

After dilating the pupil, the doctor focuses light through the cornea, pupil, and lens. He or she uses a customized camera to photograph the back of the eye to look for signs of disease in the retina, macula, and optic nerve.

If your doctor suspects you may have wet AMD, they may conduct this test to detect leaking blood vessels. The doctor injects fluorescent dye into your arm and traces it through the blood vessels in the retina, where the appearance of fluorescent patches can reveal leakage. Learn more about wet macular degeneration.

OCT is a noninvasive technique to image the retina. OCT produces cross-sectional images of the retina so that the different layers and their thicknesses can be measured. When your doctor suspects advanced dry macular degeneration, this technique can identify regions of the retina that are thinning, indicating the presence of geographic atrophy. Doctors also routinely use this test to assess the retina’s response to various treatments.

The Amsler grid can help detect early signs of retinal disease and monitor vision changes after a macular degeneration diagnosis. During an eye exam, the eye care professional may ask you to look at an Amsler grid to check for macular degeneration. Download a printable Amsler grid.

The ForeseeHome Monitor® is the first FDA-cleared device for patients with dry macular degeneration to monitor the disease at home. It is a Medicare-covered service for patients enrolled in Medicare across the U.S. who meet the eligibility criteria for dry macular degeneration and are at high risk for converting to wet macular degeneration. The device is designed to be used daily and takes approximately 3 minutes per eye. When used daily, the ForeseeHome Monitor detects changes before a patient would notice, and allows the doctor to monitor the vision for any changes between regularly scheduled exams.