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Warning-sign checks

Macular degeneration: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency eye care for sudden severe vision loss, a dark curtain across the vision, many new floaters or flashing lights, or severe eye pain.

    Call emergency services for vision loss accompanied by facial drooping, arm weakness, difficulty speaking, severe dizziness, or a sudden severe headache.

    These can be signs of a stroke or another neurological emergency.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent assessment from an eye service if you notice:

    • New waviness or bending of straight lines
    • A new blurred, grey, or blank patch in central vision
    • A sudden decline in vision in either eye
    • A rapid change in the size or shape of objects

    These changes may indicate wet AMD and should not wait for a routine appointment.

    After an eye injection, urgent warning signs include worsening pain, increasing redness, marked light sensitivity, or rapidly worsening vision.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine eye examination if reading is becoming harder, colours seem duller, or your central vision has gradually become less clear.

    Also attend your planned monitoring visits if you already have AMD.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Macular degeneration. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.