Diagnosis: Macular Edema. How Can Vision Be Restored?

Diagnosis: Macular Edema. How Can Vision Be Restored?

An increasing number of patients worldwide are facing diabetes, and it is becoming a more frequent cause of central vision loss. How can blindness be prevented?

These questions are answered by the head of the surgical department of the British Ophthalmology Center.

In the past, diabetes was associated mainly with excess weight and older age, but today it has become both “younger” and more common in people with normal weight. From an ophthalmological point of view, there is a “rule of one third” in diabetes: in one third of patients with diabetes, diabetic retinopathy develops; in one third of patients with diabetic retinopathy, macular edema occurs; and in one third of those with macular edema, this leads to severe loss of central vision.

What Are Diabetic Retinopathy and Macular Edema?

Diabetes affects the vessel walls throughout the body. Since the retina is a neural tissue that contains a large number of blood vessels, it is among the first to suffer, along with the brain and kidneys. Fluid leaks from the damaged retinal vessels, some vessels become occluded, and others may rupture — all of this is called diabetic retinopathy.

The development of retinopathy can be slow and may still be compatible with relatively good visual function, unlike macular edema.

What Is Macular Edema?

Macular edema is the accumulation of fluid and thickening of the macula — a small area of the retina responsible for our detailed central vision. The macula provides sharp vision, allowing us to read, sew, and recognize faces.

Macular edema develops because the retinal vessels “leak”. The macula, like a sponge, absorbs the fluid component of the blood, thickens, and stops functioning properly.

How Can Excess Fluid Be Removed from the Macula?

Fortunately, there is now an effective and safe way to address this problem. A special medicine is injected into the eye; it blocks the “leaking” blood vessels and prevents fluid from escaping into the retina.

Eylea for the Treatment of Macular Edema

In our clinic, we use one of the most modern drugs from this group — aflibercept (Eylea). Eylea makes it possible to block all abnormal, leaking vessels without damaging the healthy ones.

How Is the Injection Performed?

An intravitreal injection of Eylea is a microsurgical eye procedure. Therefore, in our clinic it is performed in a state-of-the-art operating room, equipped and organized according to European standards.

Although the injection itself is virtually painless and takes about five minutes of the patient’s time, the procedure is carried out under the close supervision of an experienced anesthesiologist, with continuous monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation.

What Result Can Be Expected?

As a result, the abnormal vessels close, the fluid in the retina gradually resolves, and the retina returns to its previous condition.

How Often Are Injections Needed?

For macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy, the recommended loading regimen is one injection per month for 3–5 months.

What Determines Treatment Effectiveness?

A correctly established diagnosis and an adequate treatment plan are essential for successful therapy — and all of this can be provided in our clinic. It is important to emphasize that our main goal is not to profit from our patients’ problems, but to help them regain the priceless gift of SIGHT and to earn their trust.

Where to Find More Information

You can find more detailed information on our website or by contacting our clinic directly.