Critical Visual Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

7. Straight Lines Appearing Wavy or Distorted If straight objects—such as lines of text, door frames, or tiles—suddenly appear wavy, bent, or distorted, it is a sign of a problem within the macula. The macula is the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. This distortion, known as metamorphopsia, is often an early indicator of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or swelling caused by diabetic retinopathy. While tools like the Amsler Grid can help monitor these changes at home, any new distortion requires an urgent appointment with a retina specialist.