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Symptoms - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the middle part of your vision, not the edges (peripheral vision).

You can get it in 1 eye or both.

Book with blurry text in the middle showing blurred central vision for a person with early symptoms of AMD.
The first symptom is often a blurred or distorted area in the centre of your vision.
A busy street with a dark patch in the middle showing the loss of vision of someone with AMD.
If it gets worse, you might struggle to see anything in the middle of your vision.

AMD can make things like reading, watching TV, driving or recognising faces difficult.

Other symptoms include:

  • seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked
  • being sensitive to bright light
  • seeing flickering or flashing lights
  • seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

AMD is not painful and does not affect the appearance of your eyes.

Information:

Sometimes AMD is found during a routine eye test before you have any symptoms.

Non-urgent advice: See an optician if:

  • you're worried about your vision

If you have a problem with your eyes, early diagnosis and treatment may help stop your vision getting worse.

Find an NHS sight test

Urgent advice: Get an urgent opticians appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • your vision gets suddenly worse
  • you have a dark "curtain" or shadow moving across your vision
  • your eye is red and painful

These symptoms can be signs of other eye problems that need to be treated straight away.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Page last reviewed: 22 January 2025
Next review due: 22 January 2028