Metamorphopsia

  
        Normal Vision                           Vision with Metamorphopsia

Metamorphopsia is called the change of the shape of the reflection we're looking at. This condition results in the deformation of our central vision. Reflection deformation, which is usually perceived during reading, is caused by a pathology of the macula. The macula is the central area of the retina, responsible for our clear vision. The ability to recognize objects, e.g. a person's face or the written page, is dependent on its integrity. When the macula malfunctions, the central vision is decreased and often appears deformed (metamorphopsia).

Macula disorders that usually cause metamorphopsia:

Age-related macular degeneration is probably the most common cause of our patients' central vision deformation. It is usually the wet (exudative) degeneration that indicates fluid accumulation under the macula which is followed by metamorphopsia.

Other disorders that deform central vision are:

Macular hole
Epiretinal membrane
Macular edema (e.g. due to diabetes, or retinal vein occlusion)
Central serous chorioretinopathy.