Symptoms of wet AMD
I was diagnosed with wet AMD in my left eye in 2019. Unfortunately, it wasn't caught early enough, and I have scarring of the macula and loss of central vision in that eye. On April 10, the lines of the Amsler Grid started moving both vertically and horizontally with my right eye, so I made an appointment to see my Retinologist. After all of the tests, she found no leaking as yet. Two days later, I started seeing straight metal poles bending, and that was new to me...never saw that in 2019, so I I reported that to my retinologist and was given an appointment on April 12. Still no leaking. The opthalmologist that I saw was very helpful and told me that IF I started seeing both sides of the doorposts bending in and out, that I should schedule yet another appointment. That started happening on April 19. I saw yet another opthalmologist yesterday (4/22), who also tested me and there is still no sign of blood vessels leaking. When I asked her what I should be looking for she told me that my symptoms were also indicating the progression of dry AMD, and that my brain may be trying to process what is happening in my right eye--hence the distortions. Has anyone else been frustrated with the fact that the symptoms for dry AMD progressing are the same as for wet AMD? Or is there a subtle difference in symptoms for the wet kind? It is challenging to know when to call for an emergency appointment. I waited too long to report symptoms of lines jumping in 2019, and by the end of one month I had severe damage to the left eye's macula. My Retinologist is currently monitoring me, which is reassuring, but when last I saw her, she said "you'll know when the right eye goes wet!" So what will I know? Thank you for any advice..
that is a very good question and I completely understand what you're saying, especially as you were told you waited too long with the first eye. I have intermediate stage dry amd in both eyes. I see wiggly lines with my left eye and as well as blank spots, but it's still dry. I do't know how much of a change I'm looking for on the grid. I can't keep going back every time I think I see a little extra wiggle. All I can suggest is to make sure you are checking each eye individually, which it sounds as though you are. I suppose you will know if there is a big change, but how big that has to be, I'm afraid I don't know, but I would like to know. I hope others will chime in on how they realised their amd had progressed to wet. Warmly, Wendy, Patient Leader. Yes. They did do a fluorescent angiogram, but used a high-tech machine to observe the dye moving into the eye. Five years ago, I had the dye injected, but this high tech machine was an improvement for sure. Initially, each eye looked through a key-hole and I had to open my eye widely while looking at a target and a bright picture was taken at various target positions. I felt like I was a patient on the Starship Enterprise! Anyway, they watched in real-time as the dye targeted the abnormal blood vessel in my right eye. As to the distortions, they do seem to be lessening, but it may take a while. Along with the need to add bigger font, the print in my phone was blurring, and that does continue to happen now. Making the font bold print does help. In addition, I found it interesting that Friday, May 24, when the tech checked my ability to read the eye chart, I was barely able to read any of the lines. Then, on May 29, my ability was much improved. Due to cataract surgery in both eyes, I have been reading the 20/20 line for distance, which I think was surprising to the doctors, given my distortions. The only distortion I would see at the end of the 20/20 line were three letters that were blurry. At the new/recent Retinology Clinic, when I said a letter was blurry, it appeared that the medical assistant punched a button, and the letter cleared up. My left eye can only read letters with peripheral vision, which sometimes is better than others, but I'm pretty sure the best I have ever done with that left eye was 20/70, with a lot of straining! Although the doctor did contact my insurance about using Eylea, their answer was to try Avastin first, and if it isn't effective, they would approve another medication. Related to my left eye, I've had Avastin injections in that eye for almost 5 years now. This new Retinologist seemed to think that getting the injection in that eye every 3 months was surprising and asked me whether my current Retinologist had ever extended that timeline. Since I knew that I had a bleed show up in that eye one month after the injection in March, it is possible that Avastin may not be as effective in my left eye as formerly. I hope that's not the case for my right eye, since I don't want to lose central vision in that eye too. I really wish that folks in the insurance business weren't making decisions like this, as their decisions are typically based on the expense of a medication and not on what's best medically. Unfortunately that is what we're faced with in this country. I typically say that "Insurance runs the country!!" Hoping and praying that Avastin will at least help my right eye's issues until I see the new Retinologist again at the end of June! thanks again for explaining this. It does seem as though you're seeing some improvement. I hope it continues for you. It can be hard to keep track of what is happening, especially when you're dealing with two eyes. Do you write everything down after the visit? It's also difficult to work out what's going on when we're not familiar with the "things" the technicians can do, such as flicking a switch. I don't really know how our insurance works in Australia as far as influencing the medications the doctors use. Between our public Medicare and my private health insurance, I don't think I've ever been denied what the doctor wanted to use. Perhaps it happens and they just don't tell us! I hope you go well at your next appointment. Please keep us updated. Warm wishes, Wendy, Patient Leader.
I am experiencing the same thing. I started to see straight lines bending in my left eye several years back. I went to the retinologist who said I was very to have caught it so quickly and that I had wetAMD and would need injections.
My right eye had dry AMD and about a month ago I experienced distortion in it. I went to the retinologist and was told it was ok. It got worse to the point where I couldn’t drive or see my desktop computer screen. I went to my ophthalmologist and she did a scan of my retina and said I needed treatment which I got the next day. She compared her scan with the one I had with the retinologist. She said there was a difference, so I guess it wasn’t leaking when I saw him .
I feel cross eyed and sometimes it makes me very dizzy and I get a headache.
I’m so frustrated and fearful that I will loose my vision altogether. When I asked if my vision would improve with the eyelea hd that he injected, he said maybe and left the room. I wish I knew if this is typical of having both eyes with AMD or not. He did tell me that I have both wet and dry, so maybe that’s my problem? I just don’t know.hi, thank you for your reply , I really think that my retinologist is taking good care of me but he is a man of few words and he’s very fast in leaving the room after the injection! I will have to question him beforehand.
Unfortunately he is only in the office that I go to once a week.
I was so lucky with my left eye. I caught it early and it has been stable with pretty good vision for 3 years now. It was kind of shocking with the right eye because it was so severe. I couldn’t even see my own face in the mirror! I thought my husband was watching a black and white movie but it was in color. My vision was like a giant dial was turned and everything twisted and bent.
Today it seems a bit better or I’m getting used to it.. no headache or dizziness today.im thinking it was extreme anxiety. I may ask my primary care doctor about it if it happens again.
I wish you luck with your eyes! Thanks again for the reply it helped me to calm down 😀I'm so glad you're feeling better. Actually, your description of your right eye's experience with the onset of wet AMD sounds like the significant change that my Retinologist alluded to when she said "you'll know when the right eye goes wet." Since only 10-15% of folks with dry age related macular degeneration experience getting the wet kind, it is pretty rare. You are fortunate to have caught it early in both your eyes. I hope that I will be as fortunate IF my right eye decides to progress from dry to wet. It is so nice to have folks like you who understand what it's like to experience this disorder. Our vision is such a precious gift. I hope we can retain as much as we can for as long as we can!
