Metamorphopsia

The Amsler grid showing the visual perception of the left eye of a person experiencing metamorphopsia (straight lines appear bent or curved)[1][2]

Metamorphopsia (from Greek: μεταμορφοψία, metamorphopsia, 'seeing mutated shapes') is a type of distorted vision in which a grid of straight lines appears wavy or partially blank. In addition, metamorphopsia can result in misperceptions of an object's size, shape,[3] or distance to the viewer. People can first notice they suffer from the condition when looking at mini blinds in their home.[citation needed]

Initially characterized in the 1800s, metamorphopsia was described as one of the primary and most notable indications of myopic and senile maculopathies.[4] Metamorphopsia can present itself as unbalanced vision, resulting from small unintentional movements of the eye as it tries to stabilize the field of vision.[4]

It is mainly associated with macular degeneration, particularly age-related macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization.[5] Other conditions that can present with complaints of metamorphopsia include: pathological myopia, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, choroidal rupture and multifocal choroiditis.[5]

  1. ^ Retina. Ryan, Stephen J., 1940-2013. (5th ed.). [London?]: Saunders. 2013. p. 309. ISBN 978-1-4557-3780-2. OCLC 820879155.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Liu, Grant T. (23 January 2018). Liu, Volpe, and Galetta's neuro-ophthalmology : diagnosis and management. Volpe, Nicholas J.,, Galetta, Steven,, Preceded by: Liu, Grant T. (Third ed.). [Philadelphia]. pp. 60, 957. ISBN 978-0-323-34045-8. OCLC 1022795077.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ River, Yaron; Ben Hur, Tamir; Steiner, Israel (1998-10-01). "Reversal of Vision Metamorphopsia: Clinical and Anatomical Characteristics". Archives of Neurology. 55 (10): 1362–8. doi:10.1001/archneur.55.10.1362. ISSN 0003-9942. PMID 9779666.
  4. ^ a b Midena, Edoardo; Vujosevic, Stela (2016). "Metamorphopsia: An Overlooked Visual Symptom". Ophthalmic Research. 55 (1): 26–36. doi:10.1159/000441033. hdl:2434/881140. ISSN 0030-3747. PMID 26554918. S2CID 8376773.
  5. ^ a b Page 45 in: Hartnett, Mary; Steidl, Scott (2003). Clinical pathways in vitreoretinal disease. Stuttgart: Thieme. ISBN 1-58890-119-X.