grid problems

I read something on here before about a person having trouble with an Amsler Grid but everything else being normal.

Well, I went to the eye doctor the other day and he had me look at that grid, and I could see bits missing and kind of shimmery spots. They weren't random - they were always in the same place (but different in each eye).

So I totally freaked out and he had me do a Visual Field Test, which was normal.

He said that quite a few people have pieces of the grid missing but then go on to do just fine on the Visual Field Test that measures your central vision.

He also did a scan to check my retina thickness.

He told me not to worry about it but come back in a year.

But I am very worried. When I read these forums, the doctors are always saying to "download an Amsler Grid".

Could I have macular degneration and he not be able to see it?

Do I need to see a different doctor who can answer my questions?

I think he just put me in the "too hard" basket and sent me on my WAY

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

My questions are - how old are  you and do you have any know macular degeneration or retinal disease?  Usually when patients are asked to do an amsler grid test in the office - there is already some suspicion of macular degeneration or other macular disease.  If your vision is excellent, and your retinal exam is perfectly normal and OCT macular thickness is totally normal - then there is a good chance you are at least nearly normal or normal.  It should be fairly clear on your retinal photos, and OCT if you have any macular degeneration.  Are your retinas healthy?  Did you have problems with the amsler grid for no good reason at all - just had a bad day?  or is there a real problem?  Sometimes we have patients do poorly on visual field tests because they get tired or confused or other reasons other than eye disease.  Figuring that out is part of the art and science of medicine.  You can always get a second opinion and I suspect all your questions will be answered.
Good Luck.
Michael Kutryb, MD

[michelle1967]

Hello doctor,
I am 40 years old. My maculas are completely healthy, according to two different doctors. My Visual Field Test of my central vision showed no matching blind spots to what I see on the grid.

I was not having a bad day - I always see these spots. They don't shift. They are always the same. So basically everything is normal except the Amsler Grid.

I am at a loss and so are the doctors to explain this. They even tried to blame it on eye migraine.