Lines look straight and complete
No obvious central distortion was noticed today. Continue regular eye care and any monitoring schedule your eye doctor recommends.
A moment for your vision
Amsler grid test
Notice wavy lines or missing areas in your central vision.
- About 2 min
- No sign-up
For screening only. This does not replace a professional eye exam.
Use reading glasses
Wear your usual reading correction.
Focus on the dot
Keep the screen about 30 cm away.
Check each eye
Notice any distortion or missing area.
A simple guide
How to use the Amsler grid
A careful setup makes it easier to notice a real change instead of one caused by distance, glare, or switching between both eyes.
- 1
Use your reading correction
Wear the glasses or contact lenses you normally use for reading.
- 2
Set the right distance
Hold the screen about 12 inches or 30 centimeters from your eyes.
- 3
Cover one eye
Cover the other eye gently without pressing, then keep looking at the center dot.
- 4
Repeat for the other eye
Notice whether any lines look wavy, broken, blurred, dark, or missing.
Keep the conditions consistent
Use the same glasses, distance, screen, and lighting each time, especially if your eye doctor has asked you to monitor regularly.
Keep looking at the center
Do not follow individual lines with your eyes. The test works by noticing the grid around the center point while your gaze stays fixed.
What your Amsler grid result may mean
The Amsler grid checks the central part of your vision. Straight lines may appear wavy, broken, blurred, or missing when the macula is not processing the image normally.
Age-related macular degeneration is one possible cause, but it is not the only one. A professional eye examination is needed to find the cause and determine whether treatment or monitoring is required.
Lines look wavy or uneven
New distortion can be a sign of a change affecting the macula and should be discussed promptly with an eye care professional.
An area looks missing or dark
A blank, blurred, shadowed, or broken area is not a normal result. Record which eye is affected and arrange professional care.
When to contact an eye doctor
Contact an optometrist or ophthalmologist promptly if lines look newly wavy, part of the grid is missing, or you notice a new dark or blurred area in the center of your vision.
Seek urgent medical care for sudden vision loss, a dark curtain, flashes of light, or many new floaters.
Who may benefit from an Amsler grid
The grid is most useful as a repeatable way to notice central vision changes between professional eye examinations.
People monitoring AMD
Your eye doctor may recommend regular Amsler grid checks between appointments if you have age-related macular degeneration.
People with central distortion
The grid can help describe whether straight edges, text, or tiles appear bent, missing, or uneven in one eye.
Adults noticing a new change
A quick one-eye-at-a-time check can help you communicate a new symptom, but it should not delay professional care.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers about Amsler grid screening and central vision.
What is an Amsler grid test?
An Amsler grid is a square pattern of horizontal and vertical lines with a center dot. It is used one eye at a time to notice distortion, missing areas, or other changes in central vision.
Can an online Amsler grid diagnose macular degeneration?
No. It can help you notice a central vision change, but it cannot diagnose age-related macular degeneration or identify the cause. Diagnosis requires a professional eye examination, often including dilation and retinal imaging.
Should I wear glasses during the test?
Wear the glasses or contact lenses you normally use for reading. Use the same correction, distance, and lighting each time if you are monitoring for changes.
How far should I be from the Amsler grid?
Use a normal reading distance of about 12 inches or 30 centimeters. Keep the screen straight in front of you and avoid glare.
What does it mean if the lines look wavy?
Wavy or bent lines can indicate a change in central vision. Macular conditions are one possible cause, but only an eye care professional can determine why it is happening.
What should I do if part of the grid is missing?
Contact an optometrist or ophthalmologist promptly, especially if the missing, dark, or blurred area is new or worsening. Sudden vision loss or a dark curtain requires urgent medical care.
How often should I use an Amsler grid?
Follow the schedule recommended by your eye doctor. If you have not been advised to monitor regularly, use the test as a general screen and arrange an examination for any new symptom.
Medical references
Instructions and safety language on this page are based on patient guidance from established ophthalmology organizations.