Distorted Vision
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Distorted vision
Straight lines appear curved
A problem with vision
See lines as curved instead of straight
Things look distorted
Metamorphopsia
Flat things look rounded
Shapes appear distorted
Objects appear smaller or larger
Visual distortions of lines
Distortions of faces
About the Symptom
Anorthopia is referring to distorted vision in which straight lines appear as curves or angles. These are most commonly due to retinal conditions and should be evaluated with a dilated eye exam.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Visual field defect
- Unilateral blindness
- Eye pain
- Blurring of vision
- double vision
Possible Causes
Generally, Distorted vision can be related to:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
An eye condition that causes a "hole in the center" when looking at things. It is caused by damage to the central retina (sensing layer of the eye). Causes include aging, smoking, and genetics.
- Macular Edema
Macular edema is the accumulation of fluid in the macula, the part of your retina responsible for central vision. It occurs when fluid leads to swelling in the macula, causing blurred vision and vision loss in severe cases. Common causes of macular edema include blockages in retinal arteries or veins and diabetes.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Diabetic macular edema occurs when tiny bulges (microaneurysms) protrude from the vessel walls, leaking fluid and blood into the retina. This fluid can cause swelling (edema) in the central part of the retina (macula) and may lead to vision problems or blindness.
- Pathologic Myopia
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Central Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion
- Retinitis pigmentosa
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Distorted vision may be related to these serious diseases:
- Retinal Detachment
An eye condition causing holes in vision when looking at objects. It is due to the retina (sensing layer of the eye) peeling off, usually because of aging, eye injury, or diabetes.
- Central Retinal Artery Occlusion
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you experiencing any distortion in your vision?
- When did you first notice distortion in my vision?
Reviewed By:
Ami Shah Vira, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Shah Vira grew up in Arizona. She moved to Chicago to complete a combined engineering and medical program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Chicago Medical School. She completed a highly competitive two year dual fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology and Oculoplastic at the highly regarded Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Shah Vira specializes in surgical correction of the eyelids and eyebrows, eyelid malposition and tumors, excessive tearing, and conditions involving the orbit.
Masashi Mimura, MD (Ophthalmology)
Dr. Mimura Graduated from the Osaka Medical College and obtained his ophthalmologist certification in 2007. He opened an outpatient clinic for oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at Osaka Kaijo Hospital. Subsequently, he was appointed as the assistant professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka Medical College, in 2014. He then served an international fellowship at the Department of Ophthalmology/Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery, California State University, San Diego. Since then, he has been appointed as Lecturer in the Departments of Ophthalmology at Osaka Medical College and Toho University Medical Center Sakura Hospital. Dr. Mimura is currently the Director of Oculofacial Clinic Osaka, where he specializes in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
Is it common to have distorted vision after retinal detachment surgery?
A.
Yes, it is fairly common to experience some distorted vision after retinal detachment surgery, as the repair process can affect how well your eye sees details.
References:
Pournaras C, Tsika C, Brozou C, Tsilimbaris MK. Surgical and visual outcome for recurrent retinal detachment surgery. J Ophthalmol. 2014;2014:810609. doi: 10.1155/2014/810609. Epub 2014 Aug 11. PMID: 25177496; PMCID: PMC4142744.
Vingolo EM, Fragiotta S, Domanico D, Limoli PG, Nebbioso M, Spadea L. Visual Recovery after Primary Retinal Detachment Surgery: Biofeedback Rehabilitative Strategy. J Ophthalmol. 2016;2016:8092396. doi: 10.1155/2016/8092396. Epub 2016 Feb 21. PMID: 26998353; PMCID: PMC4779528.
Q.
What are the examples of distorted vision?
A.
Distorted vision means that what you see isn’t the true shape or size of objects—it might make straight lines look curved, or objects seem out of place.
References:
Serero G, Lev M, Polat U. Distorted optical input affects human perception. Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 13;10(1):11527. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68382-8. PMID: 32661252; PMCID: PMC7359324.
Wang Q, Wang Z, Smith T. Radial distortion correction in a vision system. Appl Opt. 2016 Nov 1;55(31):8876-8883. doi: 10.1364/AO.55.008876. PMID: 27828289.
Q.
Why am I having distorted vision in one eye?
A.
Distorted vision in one eye means that what you see may look warped or out of shape, and it can happen if something is affecting the eye’s lens, cornea, or retina.
References:
Bedggood P, Metha A. Towards distortion-free imaging of the eye. PLoS One. 2021 Jun 10;16(6):e0252876. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252876. PMID: 34111195; PMCID: PMC8192003.
Choe WS, Kim M, Kim TG. Spontaneous resolution of a unilateral cataract in an adult: A case report. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Jun 24;101(25):e29466. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029466. PMID: 35758381; PMCID: PMC9276451.
insights.International
http://insights.international/) journal f society reviews. _Vol. 2, No. 3 (2024
Q.
Why am I having wavy distorted vision?
A.
Wavy, distorted vision can happen when the central part of your eye, the macula, becomes swollen or damaged, which is often seen in conditions like diabetic macular edema or wet age-related macular degeneration.
References:
Browning DJ, Stewart MW, Lee C. Diabetic macular edema: Evidence-based management. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec;66(12):1736-1750. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1240_18. PMID: 30451174; PMCID: PMC6256891.
Kohli P, Tripathy K, Patel BC. Macular Edema. [Updated 2024 Apr 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Hobbs SD, Tripathy K, Pierce K. Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) [Updated 2024 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
Q.
Why is my vision distorted all of a sudden?
A.
Wavy, distorted vision can happen when the central part of your eye, the macula, becomes swollen or damaged, which is often seen in conditions like diabetic macular edema or wet age-related macular degeneration.
References:
Blair K, Czyz CN. Retinal Detachment. [Updated 2024 Feb 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing
Barral E, Martins Silva E, García-Azorín D, Viana M, Puledda F. Differential Diagnosis of Visual Phenomena Associated with Migraine: Spotlight on Aura and Visual Snow Syndrome. Diagnostics (Basel). 2023 Jan 9;13(2):252. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13020252. PMID: 36673062; PMCID: PMC9857878.
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Link to full study:
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Distorted vision- American Academy of Ophthalmology
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/symptoms/distorted-vision