What is diabetic macular edema?

What is diabetic macular edema?

Sometimes, tiny bulges (microaneurysms) protrude from the vessel walls, leaking or oozing fluid and blood into the retina. This fluid can cause swelling (edema) in the central part of the retina (macula). This is a serious eye complication called diabetic macular edema that can cause vision problems or blindness.

What causes DMO?

Diabetic macular edema (DMO) Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is caused by a complication of diabetes called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and the leading cause of irreversible blindness in working age Americans. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both eyes.

What is a macular Oedema?

Macular edema is the build-up of fluid in the macula, an area in the center of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye and the macula is the part of the retina responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision. Fluid buildup causes the macula to swell and thicken, which distorts vision.

Can you reverse diabetic retinopathy?

While it won’t undo any damage to your vision, treatment can stop your vision from getting worse. It’s also important to take steps to control your diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Injections. Medicines called anti-VEGF drugs can slow down or reverse diabetic retinopathy.

How do you fix diabetic macular edema?

The main treatment for DME is anti-VEGF injections into the eye. These injections stop the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to promote the growth of blood vessels. This can reduce leakage from damaged blood vessels and slow the progression of DME.

Does diabetic macular edema go away?

Once we see patients with diabetic macular edema, the average patient is going to need treatment for around a year. Many patients need ongoing treatment, even beyond that year, but the treatment burden is often reduced.

Is AMD caused by diabetes?

In 7 cohort studies, diabetes was shown to be a risk factor for AMD (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.00–1.14). Results of 9 cross-sectional studies revealed consistent association of diabetes with AMD (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00–1.45), especially for late AMD (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.44–1.51).

Is macular degeneration linked to diabetes?

Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration People with both type I (also known as juvenile diabetes) and Type II (often called adult onset) diabetes are at risk for developing diabetic related macular degeneration. There are two major forms of macular degeneration: wet and dry. The vast majority are the dry form.

Can macular Oedema be cured?

Can Macular Edema Be Cured? The condition cannot be cured, although it can be treated. Retinal capillaries may be leaky for a number of different reasons depending on the underlying disease or type of condition.

Can you go blind from macular edema?

If left untreated, macular edema can cause severe vision loss and even blindness.