Retina home check
Amsler grid: a two-minute check for each eye
The Amsler grid is a simple chart of straight lines with a dot in the centre. If part of it looks wavy, blurred or missing while you look at the dot, that can be an early sign of a problem in the macula, the part of the retina you use for reading and recognising faces.
It's most useful for people with macular degeneration, diabetes, or high short-sight, or anyone a doctor has asked to check at home. Doing it once a week helps you notice a change early. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
Before you start
- If you use reading glasses, keep them on.
- Sit in good light and hold your phone or tablet at normal reading distance, about 30 to 35 cm from your eyes (roughly the length of a ruler).
- You'll test one eye at a time, starting with the right. Cover the other eye with your palm, without pressing on it.
- Keep looking at the centre dot the whole time. Don't move your eye around the grid; notice the rest of the lines from the corner of your vision.
Right eye
Cover your left eyeLook only at the black dot in the centre.
Still looking at the dot: do all the lines look straight, and are all the squares there and equally clear?
Tap the squares where the lines looked wavy, blurred, dark or missing. This is optional, but it helps you and your doctor compare next time. Tap again to undo.
Your saved checks on this device
Common questions
What does it mean if the lines look wavy?
Wavy or bent lines, or a blurred, dark or missing patch, can mean the macula has changed, for example from macular degeneration, fluid from diabetic eye disease, or a membrane on the retina. It needs an eye examination to find out. If it has come on suddenly, contact us the same day, because wet macular degeneration responds best to early treatment.
How often should I do this?
If your doctor has asked you to monitor at home, once a week is usual. Use the same screen, distance and lighting each time, so any change is easier to spot.
My screen is small. Does the size matter?
The printed Amsler chart is a fixed size, and screens vary, so this version is best for spotting changes over time rather than measuring them. Holding the screen at the same distance each week keeps your checks comparable.
If everything looks normal, do I still need eye check-ups?
Yes. The grid only checks the centre of your vision and won't pick up many conditions, such as early glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy that hasn't reached the macula. Keep your regular eye examinations.
This check is for general information and home monitoring only. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an eye examination. If you notice sudden distortion, a dark patch, flashes or a curtain over your vision, seek care the same day.
Talk to an eye specialist
Akshar Eye Clinic, 1st Floor, Radha Vishweshwar Apartment, Narsing Lane, opposite NL High School, Malad West, Mumbai 400064. Open Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 8 PM.