Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is swelling in the macula, the central part of the retina, causing vision impairment. DME occurs in people living with diabetes. Fluid buildup occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in your eyes, leading them to weaken and potentially leak. This condition may also cause the growth of new and inappropriate blood vessels.
Many different conditions can cause macular edema. The most common one is diabetic retinopathy, an eye condition that causes vision loss in people with diabetes. When diabetic retinopathy causes macular edema, it’s called diabetic macular edema.
Early DME symptoms aren’t noticeable, but as the condition progresses, you may experience blurry vision, distorted or wavy lines, and colors appearing washed out or different.
Treatment varies based on the type and severity of your condition. Options may include injections for diabetic macular edema (DME) caused by inflammation or leaking blood vessels, eye drop medications to address cystoid edema, laser treatments to stabilize your vision by sealing leaking blood vessels, or vitrectomy surgery if macular edema is due to vitreous traction on the macula.
