Metamorphopsia is a vision defect that causes distorted views of objects. It can be a symptom of age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, migraines, or macular holes/tears. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and should be sought immediately to prevent blindness.
Metamorphopsia is a vision defect that causes people to see objects in a distorted way. When an individual has metamorphopsia, they typically see lines as wavy or curly instead of straight, flat surfaces such as curves. For example, an individual with this condition may look at a telephone pole and see it curving or see a group of trees as if they form a rounded group. Sometimes telephone poles and trees appear to be leaning forward instead of standing upright.
Sometimes a person develops metamorphopsia as one of the symptoms of age-related macular degeneration. This condition typically affects people who are 50 or older, causing vision loss in the center of the affected person’s retina, which is the tissue that lines the back of the eye. This part of the eye is called the macula, and vision loss in this area is often the result of damage to the retina. When an individual has macular degeneration, faces appear blurry, printed words are difficult to recognize, and other visual distortions can occur.
Metamorphopsia can also occur as a result of retinal detachment. This is a condition in which a person’s retina moves away from the eye structures that support it. As a result, the individual stops seeing things normally. Retinal detachment can occur due to injury to the affected eye and sometimes even head trauma. It can occur as a complication of eye surgery or develop in people who have eye disease. This condition can also affect individuals who have no other disease but are extremely nearsighted.
In some cases, people who suffer from migraines report symptoms of this condition. A migraine is a severe headache that begins when blood vessels in the brain become enlarged and stimulate the release of chemicals in the brain. Migraine is usually very painful and often accompanied by visual disturbances, stomach pain, diarrhea and sensitivity to light. These symptoms are temporary, although some people get frequent migraines.
An individual with holes or macular tears often experiences metamorphopsia, blurriness, and difficulty reading. A macular hole or tear is a type of damage to the macula that is most common in people over the age of 60. There are many things that can contribute to the development of holes and tears in the macula. They include retinal detachment, complications of diabetes, extremely severe myopia, eye injuries, and some eye diseases.
Treatment may depend on what caused it and usually involves resolving the underlying condition. It is important to see an ophthalmologist as soon as you notice any vision changes. Some conditions can progress to blindness if left untreated.
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