Amsler grid

The Amsler Grid or Amsler grid is in ophthalmology, a simple functional test that can be checked with the central visual field regions of the eye. It was invented by the Swiss ophthalmologist Marc Amsler.

With the prevalence and technical improvement of modern perimeter the Amsler grid today at most the value of a self-test for patients, possibly a rapid screening method for the approximate determination of central visual field defects, for example, in age-related macular degeneration or other exudative and degenerative processes in the central retina. It makes no substantial and detailed assessments of the visual field, for example, to regard the Skotomtiefe. The test itself consists of an approximately 40 x 40 cm square mesh grid with a dot in the middle, which must be fixed during the monocular test. The other eye is completely covered with the palm of your hand or an eye patch. The test distance is about 40-50 cm. With appropriate findings, the subject apparent " holes" in the grid or " dark spots " will be able to notice in the grid pattern, possibly even waves or curvature of the grid lines. Such perceptions should always lead to an immediate ophthalmologic control. But even a perfectly normal representation of the Amsler grid includes central or even peripheral visual field defects from not entirely.

For self-test Amsler grid can be downloaded or printed from the Internet.