What Can Cause Wavy Lines in Your Eyesight?

The most common causes of wavy lines in eyesight include ocular migraine and macular degeneration, according to Healthhype.com. Metamorphopsia is the medical term for this form of vision disturbance, which may be either transient or constant, depending on the cause of the disorder.

Ocular migraines are transient, painless episodes that involve visual disturbances, such as blind spots, wavy lines, zigzag lines, moving colors and flashing lights. Although ocular migraines can be alarming, especially on the first occurrence, they usually last less than 30 minutes and have no lasting health consequences, reports All About Vision. Like other types of migraines, episodes can occur during periods of tiredness or following the ingestion of certain foods, such as cheese or red wine. Ocular migraines may have a hereditary basis.

Macular degeneration is a potentially serious, age-related condition that involves the breakdown of the macula, the central portion of the retina. It is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in the United States, reports AMD.org. The condition attacks central vision but spares peripheral vision. Distorted lines are a hallmark of the disease. The incidence of macular degeneration increases with age. About a third of the population develops the condition by age 74.

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