Diabetic Macular Edema Insights

Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetic retinopathy that affects the macula in the eye, leading to vision impairment. Early detection and treatment are essential.
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Diabetes Management | Ophthalmology | Retina Specialist | DME | Macular Swelling
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Jane Cox

Diabetic Macular Edema FAQ


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What is diabetic macular edema (DME)?

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy . It occurs when fluid builds up in the macula, the center portion of the retina. The retina is the layer of cells at the back of your eye that helps convert light into the images you see. Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in the United States.

How is diabetic macular edema treated?

Treatments for diabetic macular edema start with treating diabetes itself. However, depending on the type or severity of your diabetic macular edema, you may need additional treatments. Anti-VEGF medications work to block new blood vessels from developing. They also stop leakage from abnormal blood vessels that could flood the macula.

What causes macular edema?

Macular edema happens when blood vessels leak into a part of the retina called the macula. This makes the macula swell, causing blurry vision. There are many different conditions that can cause macular edema. The most common one is diabetic retinopathy — an eye condition that causes vision loss in people with diabetes.

What is diabetic macular oedema?

Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness registration among working age adults in England and Wales. It is caused by changes to the tiny blood vessels of the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye). In diabetic macular oedema, blood vessels leak fluid into the retina.

What is diabetes-related macular edema?

Diabetes-related macular edema happens when high blood sugar levels affect the blood vessels in your eyes. Your blood vessels leak, which causes fluid to build up and thicken your retina. Issues with blood vessels happen to people who have diabetes-related retinal disease or diabetes-related retinopathy (DRR).

Can high blood sugar cause macular edema?

Consistently high blood sugar can damage the small blood vessels in your eye. Initially, this damage starts as diabetic retinopathy, which can impair your vision. If left untreated, fluid from these damaged blood vessels can leak into the macula. This is what causes diabetic macular edema.

Can diabetic macular oedema cause blindness?

Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness registration among working age adults in England and Wales. It is caused by changes to the tiny blood vessels of the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye). In diabetic macular oedema, blood vessels leak fluid into the retina. How does diabetic macular oedema cause vision loss?

What happens if you don't treat diabetes-related macular edema?

If you begin to grow new blood vessels in your eyes that don’t belong there, you have proliferative DRR. These new blood vessels aren’t as strong as they should be, so they also leak and allow blood to build up in your macula and retina. A serious complication of untreated diabetes-related macular edema is vision loss.

Diabetic Macular Edema References

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