Photo-Stress Test

People who have a problem with their macula, the central part of the retina, sometimes say that when they enter a dark room after being out in the bright light, it takes a long time for them to regain their vision. The photo-stress test, sometimes called the dazzle test, uses this observation to determine whether mildly reduced eyesight is due to a macular problem or some other cause. A moderately bright light is shined directly into one eye (while the other eye is covered) for ten seconds. Then we determine how long it takes for the visual acuity to return to its prior level. A prolonged recovery time suggests a disorder of the macula such as age-related macular degeneration.