Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetes that occurs when fluid builds up in the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. This can lead to blurred or double vision, distorted vision, and difficulty seeing colors. Treatment options for DME include medications like anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy (also known as anti-VEGF injections) and corticosteroids as well as procedures like laser therapy and vitrectomy, which removes fluid and scar tissue from the eye. Managing blood sugar levels and blood pressure through lifestyle changes and medication can help prevent and slow the progression of DME.
What Is Diabetic Macular Edema? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and PreventionMedically Reviewed by Ghazala O'Keefe, MD | July 28, 2023
FAQ
What are the early signs of diabetic macular edema?
Early signs you may have diabetic macular edema include blurred vision, colors appearing faded or dull, and distorted vision where objects look wavy or appear to be different sizes if you look with one eye followed by the other.
How is diabetic macular edema diagnosed?
Diabetic macular edema is diagnosed through an eye exam, visual field test, and imaging tests, including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography, which allow physicians to view the inside of your eye.
Can diabetic macular edema cause blindness?
If left untreated, diabetic macular edema can lead to severe vision loss and blindness.
What are the risk factors for diabetic macular edema?
You're at a higher risk of diabetic macular edema if you have long-standing diabetes, poor blood sugar control, and high blood pressure. Smoking also increases the risk.
How often should people with diabetes have eye exams?
People with diabetes should have an eye exam annually at a minimum — or more frequently as advised by an eye doctor.
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Kacy Church, MD, practices as a clinical endocrinologist with the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Burlingame, California. She balances both outpatient and inpatient responsibilitie...
Michael W. Stewart, MD, is professor and chairman of ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology Resear...
Brittni Scruggs, MD, PhD, is an adult and pediatric vitreoretinal surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Scruggs teaches medical ...
Ghazala O'Keefe, MD, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she also serves as the section director for uveitis and as ...
Daniel S. Casper, MD, PhD, is a professor emeritus of ophthalmology and a senior lecturer in ophthalmology at Columbia University. He teaches medical students at Columbia's Vagelos...
Angela D. Harper, MD, is in private practice at Columbia Psychiatric Associates in South Carolina, where she provides evaluations, medication management, and psychotherapy for adul...
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Resources
Diabetes-Related Macular Edema. Cleveland Clinic. February 14, 2023.
