Metamorphopsia
Metamorphopsia is a type of distorted vision in which a grid of straight lines appears wavy and parts of the grid may appear blank. People can first notice they suffer with the condition when looking at mini-blinds in their home.
It is mainly associated with macular degeneration, particularly age-related macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization.[1] Other conditions that can present with complaints of metamorphopsia include pathological myopia, presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, choroidal rupture and multifocal choroiditis.[1]
Types
Dry (nonexudative, > 80%)—deposition of yellowish extracellular material in and between bruch membrane and retinal pigment epithelium (“drusen”) with gradual loss in vision.
Wet (exudative, 10–15%)—rapid loss of vision due to bleeding secondary to choroidal neovascularization.
Etymology
Gk, meta + morphe, form, opsis, sight
References
- Page 45 in: Hartnett, Mary; Steidl, Scott (2003). Clinical pathways in vitreoretinal disease. Stuttgart: Thieme. ISBN 1-58890-119-X.