Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the second most common eye disease, after AMD (age-related macular degeneration), that causes permanent and severe visual impairment. Do you have diabetes and your eyesight is deteriorating? This could be diabetic macular edema. Find out what the exact symptoms of the disease are and what the treatment is about.

Diabetic macular edema( DME -diabetic macular edema ordiabetic maculopathy ) unlike to AMD, or age-related macular degeneration, affects most of the workforce. Only early diagnosis and treatment can save your eyesight. Diabetic macular edema is an eye disease where changes affect the most important areas of the eye to read, see details and see colors.

Diabetic macular edema (DME, maculopathy) - causes

Diabetic macular edema is caused by a build-up of fluid in the central part of the retina, the macula. The presence of fluid is the result of its penetration from diabetic-damaged small vessels of the retina and choroid - the two most important layers inside the eye.

Diabetic macular edema is one of the many dangerous complications of diabetes.

In diabetic patients, a special factor - VEGF, which damages the barrier between the blood and the retina, is overproduced due to the hypoxia of cells. Blood components leak into the retina and fluid begins to accumulate, causing the retina to swell or lift.

To prevent eye fundus changes in diabetes, including DME, monitor blood glucose, cholesterol, and other lipids, measure blood pressure, and treat if any test abnormalities occur. Follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. And most importantly - come to regular ophthalmological examinations!

Diabetic macular edema (DME, maculopathy) - symptoms

The first symptoms of diabetic macular edema are:

  • visual acuity deterioration
  • waving, breaking straight lines (as in the case of AMD)
  • seeing a spot in front of the eye that remains motionless when movedeye

Patients with long-lasting or uncontrolled diabetes, high or extremely low blood sugar levels, hypertension and diabetes with impaired fat metabolism are particularly at risk of DME. The risk factors for the development of this disease also include renal failure associated with diabetes and pregnancy.

Important

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease whose primary symptom is elevated blood glucose levels. There are two main types of diabetes: type 2 diabetes (called adult diabetes), which is more common, and type 1 diabetes (called youth diabetes). It is estimated that in 2025, 484 million people around the world will develop diabetes (according to data from the International Diabetes Organization - IDF). In Poland, it affects 2-2.5 million people. Diabetic macular edema is the most common cause of permanent and severe visual impairment in people with so-called working age, young and professionally active.

Diabetic macular edema (DME, maculopathy) - diagnosis

The first prophylactic ophthalmological examination with assessment of the fundus of the eyes after pupil dilation should be performed at the time of diagnosis of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes (adult diabetes). In type 1 diabetes, changes are very rare in the first 5 years of the disease, but then unfortunately they can spread very quickly. DME can be diagnosed quickly with OCT (optical tomography - central retinal imaging). It is a short and painless test that shows the doctor the central part of the retina (macula) in several scans and allows you to assess whether there is retinal elevation and how tall it is. In some cases, it is necessary to supplement the examination with the use of fluorescein angiography, i.e. an examination with the administration of contrast in the patient's vein.

You must do it

How often should I have eye checkups, depending on the severity of my retinopathy?

  • once a year in people without diabetic changes at the fundus
  • every 6 months if there are slight changes in the fundus
  • every 3-4 months in people with more advanced eye fundus changes requiring laser therapy
  • monthly in pregnant women

Diabetic macular edema (DME, maculopathy)

DME can be treated with several methods. The primary method of treating this condition is laser photocoagulation. Its task is to prevent the further development of changes and, consequently, to prevent loss of vision. Laser therapy also lowers the concentration of VEGF and inhibits the development of DME. The laser beam (1/10 mm in diameter) is directed at the altered areas of the retina. Itselfthe center of view is omitted. Treatment is painless. After the procedure, the risk of further visual impairment is reduced by half.

In a very advanced stage, laser therapy must be supplemented with a special injection into the eye with a substance that inhibits the formation of the unfavorable VEGF factor. The drug is administered under local anesthesia with a very thin and short needle into the patient's eye. Typically three loading doses are given monthly, although sometimes more injections are needed. The patient returns home after the procedure.

In some cases, however, DME can be caused by the vitreous body pulling the retina inside the eye. Then, the only treatment method is vitrectomy - an operation that removes the vitreous body and releases the stuck retina.

Category:

Eye diseases and vision disorders