Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal pathology caused by damage to the nervous tissue and blood vessels. It develops in every third patient with diabetes mellitus and is one of the most common complications of this disease. In the advanced stages, patients have an abnormal growth of blood vessels and maculopathy, which is exudation and swelling in the central part of the retina. The treatment of diabetic retinopathy in Germany involves using anti-VEGF, laser procedures and stem cells.
Content
- Drug therapy
- Laser treatment
- Stem cell therapy
The cost of diabetic retinopathy treatment depends on where you undergo treatment, who carries out your treatment and what methods are used. We will help you select a clinic with the best ratio of price and quality of medical services.
It is better to undergo treatment in a clinic whose doctors specialize in the therapy for diabetes mellitus and its complications and achieve significant progress: the University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, the University Hospital Ulm, the University Hospital Rechts der Isar Munich.
Leave your request on the Booking Health website. We will recommend a specialized hospital and physician, arrange travel to Germany, take care of accommodation and medical insurance, and provide you with interpreting services. If you have any questions, a personal medical coordinator will always be in touch with you.
Drug therapy
Most patients with diabetic retinopathy are treated with conservative therapy. In addition to controlling diabetes mellitus itself, the retina is affected by the following drugs to normalize blood glucose levels:
Anti-VEGF therapy involves using medicines that block the growth of blood vessels in the retina. The injections of drugs into the eye are carried out 1-2 times a month. The development of these drugs has revolutionized the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. They not only preserve vision but also increase its acuity.
Intravitreal steroids are used only for refractory retinopathy in the absence of a response to anti-VEGF. These medicines reduce the thickness of the central part of the retina and increase visual acuity. To avoid frequent eye injections, biodegradable delivery systems are used. For example, the DEX implant releases corticosteroids into the vitreous for six months.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment was the main method before the development of anti-VEGF. As of today, laser techniques are also often used in patients with diabetic retinopathy but are no longer first-line therapy. These procedures are performed after using anti-VEGF to improve results or when the drugs are ineffective.
Macular laser coagulation reduces swelling and reduces the risk of visual impairment by 50%. The procedure also reduces the risk of hemorrhage into the vitreous body. Laser therapy reduces the formation of new blood vessels by destroying microaneurysms, reducing retinal blood flow due to tissue reduction, improving the oxygenation (oxygen saturation) and stimulating the pigment epithelium.
What is new in laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy:
- PASCAL laser is an innovative type of laser used in some specialized clinics in Germany. It reduces laser-induced retinal damage, providing more precise treatment control and reduced procedure time.
- D-MPL micropulse diode laser is used to facilitate the application of subthreshold burns in order to minimize associated damage to the retina.
- NAVILAS navigation laser system increases the accuracy of applying laser damage to the retina.
These innovations make the laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy safer for the patient.
Stem cell therapy
So far, stem cells are not considered a standard treatment. They are used within the framework of clinical trials. However, some German clinics already offer stem cell treatment for retinopathy for their patients.
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), which are morphologically similar to photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells, have been used with the greatest success. They are harvested from adipose tissue, bone marrow and peripheral blood. Patients receive intravitreal stem cell injections. They are also administered intravenously.
The Booking Health service is helpful for people who want to undergo diagnostics and treatment of diabetic retinopathy in Germany. On the website, you will find the cost of medical services in various ophthalmological departments of clinics in Germany. Booking a medical program at favorable prices is a significant advantage for those who do not have medical insurance. In addition, the Booking Health specialists will help you select a doctor and hospital, receive a visa and travel to Germany.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Farrukh Ahmed. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Medical News Today
PubMed
