Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services for sudden vision loss accompanied by facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, severe dizziness, or another possible stroke symptom.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Seek urgent, same-day eye care for:
A sudden new dark or blurred area
New distortion or straight lines becoming wavy
A rapid change in vision in either eye
New flashes, many floaters, or a curtain-like shadow
Sudden loss of part or all of your vision
After an eye injection, get urgent help for increasing pain, marked redness, strong light sensitivity, discharge, or worsening vision.
These can be signs of infection or another uncommon but serious injection complication.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange a routine eye appointment if you notice a gradual decline in reading vision, need much brighter light, or develop slowly growing blank areas.
Also keep scheduled monitoring appointments even if your vision seems unchanged.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Geographic atrophy. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.