10 Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

By jolene

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Symptom #4: Decreased Visual Acuity

Visual acuity refers to visual clarity and can be dependent on neural and optical factors. One of the commonest causes of low visual acuity is a refractive error, which can be corrected by the use of spectacles. Other causes of low visual acuity include astigmatism, detached retina, and macular degeneration.

Visual acuity can be measured by a test that requires the individual to identify letters or symbols on a printed chart. Visual acuity is considered normal if the patient has 20/20 or 6/6 vision. This means that the human eye is able to separate contours about 1.75 mm apart at 20 feet or 6 meters. In patients with macular degeneration, visual acuity can drastically decrease by two or more levels.