Treatment of Macular Edema
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Macular edema(ME) is an eye disease, when macula becomes thickened and swollen, causing deterioration of central vision. Macula is located in the center of retina. It is a thin layer of sensitive tissue, which helps the person concentrate his vision during reading or recognizing separate things from the whole image, perceived by eyes. Macular edema is caused by the leakage of the fluid from the blood vessels. Macula becomes swollen and can not function properly anymore.
The damage of leakage can be mild to severe. In most cases patients are able to retain peripheral vision, which is usually not affected by changes in macula. Quite often macular edema occurs as a consequence of diabetes. It is most often caused by diabetic retinopathy. According to the National Institute of Eye, only in America there are approximately 7.7 millions of people who have diabetic retinopathy, of those 750 000 have also experienced macular edema. ME can also be caused by cataract surgery, infection, and age-related changes in retina.
- Blurred central vision
- Changes in color perception
- Images, perceived by the central images, may seem washed out
- Dots in the first moments a person opens the eyes after they were closed for some time
- It takes longer for a person to focus his eyes on a particular thing or another person
- During general examination ophthalmologist will examine the retina with a special device, equipped by the light, to see if there are any changes. Nevertheless, it is difficult to see macula during general examination as it is located inside the eye on the back layer of retina.
- Fluorescein angiography is nowadays the most common diagnosis for macular edema as it can acquire the image of the macula and determine if there is leakage of the blood vessels. It uses special camera to make a detailed image of the retina and detect macula swelling.
- Laser treatment is used to reduce the macula swelling and decrease the degree of leakage.
- Injection therapy is also used to reduce the swelling. Usually patients get steroid injections.
- Control of the blood sugar in diabetic patients is another treatment option.
Overall, macular edema dissipates after several months of treatment and patients are able to preserve the central vision.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko