Frank Siringo, M.D., O.D., chief of vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Omni Eye Specialists in Denver, explains how wet AMD is typically diagnosed.

Wet AMD Basics

Get the basics on the most advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, a condition known as wet AMD.

What Is Wet AMD?

Wet AMD Prevention

There's a lot you can do to lower your risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration. 

Can I Lower My Risk for Wet AMD?

Can I Prevent Wet AMD?

Wet AMD Symptoms

If you're at risk for wet age-related macular degeneration, it's crucial that you know how to spot the signs.

How Will I Know I Have Wet AMD?

What Are the Symptoms of Wet AMD?

Wet AMD Causes

Doctors don't have definitive answers yet, but they do what what may increase your risk.

Why Did I Develop Wet AMD?

Wet AMD vs Dry AMD

Learn what doctors know about the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

What's the Difference Between Wet and Dry AMD?

Wet AMD and Vision Loss 1

Vision can deteriorate fairly rapidly, so make that appointment as soon as possible.

How Quickly Can Wet AMD Lead to Vision Loss?

Wet AMD Treatment

Today's treatment options for wet age-related macular degeneration are more effective than ever. 

What Treatments Are Available for Wet AMD?

Eye Injection Basics

Deeeep breath. This treatment isn't as stressful as you may think.

What Are Eye Injections Really Like? 

Eye Injection Risks

Anti-VEGF injections are highly effective medications, but as with all drugs, there are some potential (though uncommon) complications. 

What Are the Risks of Eye Injections?

Wet AMD and Vision Loss 2

Vision loss was almost always permanent with wet age-related macular degeneration. Today's treatments offer new hope. 

Can Vision Loss From Wet AMD Be Restored?

Can Vision Loss From Wet AMD Be Reversed?

WET AMD Diagnosis

Find out how doctors confirm a patient has wet age-related macular degeneration. 

How Is Wet AMD Diagnosed?

Video: How Is Wet AMD Diagnosed? 

Wet AMD is diagnosed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the exam room, by using the microscope with some lenses so we can see the retina. That is done in combination with some pictures that we take, the most important of which is called OCT or optical coherence tomography. That picture gives us a cross-section right through the macula in a very highly magnified view, and we can see fine details such as if there's fluid in the retina or fluid under the retina.  

Sometimes, less so nowadays, but very frequently in the past, we would use dye-based techniques, one of the most important of which was called fluorescein angiography. For these techniques, we put dye in the patient's vein that goes to the eye. Depending on how the dye can leak out of these abnormal blood vessels, that will tell us if the macular degeneration has become wet.


Follow Us

How Is Wet AMD Diagnosed?

Find out how doctors confirm a patient has wet age-related macular degeneration.

More Wet AMD Videos