Medical History
Your symptoms and medical background help indicate the possible causes of your vision loss. Your doctor may ask you questions about your symptoms and how long you've had them, and about any family history of macular degeneration. Your doctor may also take note of your age and skin or hair color, since macular degeneration is more common among older, light-haired, fair-skinned people.

Routine Eye Exams
Each time you go to your eye doctor, you may have some routine exams, which can check for a variety of problems. An eye chart tests your ability to see clearly. A tonometer measures eye pressure. A slit lamp is a microscope used to view the front of your eye and your retina. Your doctor may use eyedrops to dilate your pupils, making it easier to see into your eyes.

Macular Exams
Your doctor uses a variety of tests to check the health of your macula. An Amsier grid-with crossing lines and a black dot at its center-reveals any distortions in your vision. A slit lamp with a special lens helps your doctor check your retina for drusen and other signs of macular degeneration. A fluorescein angiogram is a photograph of your retina that can confirm wet macular degeneration. During the simple outpatient procedure, colored dye is injected into a vein and travels to your eye to highlight any fluid in your retina. Then a photo is taken.