Distorted vision
Straight lines ripple. Door frames bow. Faces don't sit quite right.
Try it
Are all the lines straight, with no missing squares around the dot?
With typical vision, yes. Bending, blur or gaps near the centre are exactly what an eye doctor needs to hear about.
What's happening
Distorted vision (metamorphopsia) happens when the light-sensing layer at the centre of the retina is pushed, pulled or swollen out of its neat grid. The brain reads the displaced signal as bent shapes, and objects can look smaller or larger than they are.
This simulation is for understanding and empathy. It is not a diagnosis and doesn't replace an eye examination.
What you might notice
Wavy straight lines
Tiles, window frames and lines of text bend near where you look.
Sizes change
Things can look smaller, or larger, through the affected eye.
Faces look wrong
Features seem shifted, which is unsettling mid-conversation.
A grid shows it
Lines on a square grid bend or go missing near the centre dot.
Where it gets hard
- Reading, as lines bend into each other.
- Judging edges, steps and the rim of a cup.
- Fine work like sewing, writing or reading a dial.
- Recognising faces.
Often caused by
Conditions commonly linked to this pattern.
- Wet age-related macular degeneration
- Epiretinal membrane (macular pucker)
- Macular hole
- Central serous chorioretinopathy
- Diabetic macular oedema
- Retinal vein occlusion
Treatment and support
New distortion is a reason to see an eye doctor soon, because wet AMD responds best to early anti-VEGF injections. An epiretinal membrane or macular hole can be repaired with surgery. Central serous chorioretinopathy often settles on its own within months but should be monitored.
Looking for research you could join? Search ClinicalTrials.gov or the EU Clinical Trials register.
Get checked the same day if
New wavy or bent lines appear, or a grid you check regularly suddenly looks different. This matters most if you're over 50 or already have AMD in one eye.
If it's sudden or comes with other symptoms, go to an emergency department.
Where to learn more
- Macular Society
UK charity with guides, support groups and an advice line for macular conditions.
- National Eye Institute
Plain-language information on eye conditions.
- Find an ophthalmologist (US)
The American Academy of Ophthalmology's search for eye doctors.