Am I doing the Amsler Grid right?

[AnaKater]

Eye exam 4 months ago, 20 Years old, astigmatism, don't wear glasses - yet. I was going through online eye test just because I worry, came across Amsler Grid, turned my laptop too full brightness in a dark room and stared at it 20 seconds each eye - both looked perfect. I then stared intensely with one eye covered for about 50+ seconds and it was like I saw abit of static and the lines didn't disappear but I could make them fade when not moving my focus for very long, could do this in both eyes.
I then googled and noticed you're suppose to only look for a few seconds and if there's something it will certainly appear straight away. Although I came across a post on this site about how when you cover one eye and stare with the other for so long at a fixed bright point (eg, my laptop), the chemicals in your eyes become unbalanced and try to catch up and you can briefly see a 'dark area' shimmer across vision. I tested this against the blue sky and then on the grid - and yes I could do it in both eyes, it took a bit of patience to do it, but now I'm overthinking it - is this to be expected when staring like I did? This is the post I read: https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Eye-Care/Why-does-darkness-engulf-vision-when-you-stare-while-covering-one-eye/show/3013079

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

That is correct. Print out and do off paper. One eye at a time. Pathology shows up right away . You can google abnormal amsler grids to see what they look like.

[AnaKater]

Thankyou, it seems silly I figured pro-longed staring would ofcourse have some effect. Every line/corner looks very intact straight away and stays correct in case I didn't mention. My Optometrist said there's no need for someone my age to do this test - is that correct? I figured it's better safe than sorry to have a look. Out of curiosity if one did have a pathology would it be visible looking at anything else, for example a tree - or only on a amsler grid?

[xltjim]

I wouldn't do it so often that you get obsessed with it...lol.  I just do it maybe once every  month or whenever, and just before a checkup with doctor so I can mention any strange things.  I am older than you but before I had recent eye issue I never even did the amsler test except when dr. had me do it at annual checkup.    

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you are young, your eyes normal, your vision normal there is no need to do Amsler grid.  In ophthalmology we use it mainly for older people with macular disease.

[xltjim]

Don't have an answer for you, but will say, my doctor said not to do the amsler grid test on a computer screen.  He said to print it out and then you can use a pencil to mark / draw any anomalies and show it to him.  I am nearsighted with floaters.  It seems like every time I look at it I get somewhat different result - nothing dramatic and I can tell the floaters affect it.  Dr examined me though and said all good.   I look at it for like 10 seconds each eye.  Take care, Jim

[AnaKater]

Thanks Jim, yes I don't notice any changes at all, I didn't know you shouldn't do it on the computer as the pixels/afterimage really stick in your vision after looking for way to long like I did