Are You
Experiencing
Low Vision?

Before

After

• Blurriness in the
  center of vision
• Straight lines
  that look wavy
• Blind spots
  or patches
• Colors that look
  dull or washed out

Your retina is a thin lining at the back of your eye and is necessary for good vision.⁵ It is made up of light-sensitive nerve tissue that controls how images are viewed. The process of seeing starts when light passes through the front of your eye and is focused on your retina. Your retina then converts this light into electrical impulses that are carried by the optic nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as images.

Your macula is a small section of the retina near the optic nerve that is an important part of your eye.⁶ The macula is responsible for sharp central vision, which you need so you can clearly see the details of objects in front of you, such as faces and written text.

Your retina and macula can become injured or diseased, which may in turn affect your vision. Two common retinal diseases are Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).^1,7 Each disease affects the retina and macula in slightly different ways. If you think you may have one of these diseases, see your eye doctor immediately.

Teresa J.

Wet AMD Eye Matter Ambassador

“One evening, driving to play bridge with the girls, I noticed the streetlights looked like stars with long rays of light coming down and surrounding them. Oncoming traffic headlights were totally blurred. I pulled over immediately, thinking my glasses, or perhaps my windshield, needed to be cleaned. But when I cleaned both and nothing in my vision changed, I knew I was in trouble! First thing the next morning, I made an appointment with my ophthalmologist.”

Talk to an Ambassador

Prepare Ahead
Ask the appointment scheduler if there is anything you need to do before the appointment. One idea is to bring a list of all your medications.

Bring Someone
Confirm if you can bring someone with you, such as a spouse, child, or friend.

Travel Safely
Make sure you have safe transportation to and from your appointment.

Grab Sunglasses
Help protect your eyes after certain exams are performed.

Visual Acuity Test^1,7 This test measures how well you can see the letters on an eye chart both for distance and near visual tasks.

Tonometry⁷ This test measures the pressure inside your eye.

Fundus Photography^3,12 This test lets your eye doctor look closely at your retina by taking pictures of the back of the eye.

Dilated Eye Exam^1,7,11 When your doctor conducts a dilated eye exam, he or she will put drops in your eye to dilate, or widen, the pupil. He or she can then better see in the back of the eye, including the retina, for signs of problems or changes.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)^1,7 This scan shows the layers of the retina and measures retinal thickness. It can help show your eye doctor if fluid is within or under the retina, a sign of certain retinal diseases, including Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).

Fluorescein Angiography^1,7 During this test, dye is injected into a vein in your arm. The dye lets your eye doctor see the blood vessels in your eye to check for leaks or changes in the retina.

Bringing a loved one with you to your appointment can also help you feel less overwhelmed and remember information correctly. If you’re a DME caregiver, you can learn how to better support your loved one here. If you’re a Wet AMD caregiver, learn more here.