Diabetic macular edema: traditional and novel treatment.

DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: TRADITIONAL AND NOVEL TREATMENT.
Acta Clin Croat. 2017 03;56(1):124-32
Authors: Tomić M, Vrabec R, Poljičanin T, Ljubić S, Duvnjak L
Abstract
Diabetes is one of the leading public health problems worldwide. Diabetic macular
edema (DME) is the main cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. Ideal metabolic control of
diabetes is the primary goal of treatment and the basic way of preventing and stopping the progression
of DME. Although laser photocoagulation has been the standard treatment of DME for nearly three
decades, superior outcomes can be achieved with novel, intravitreal anti-VEGF and steroid therapy.
Novel treatment option for DME depends on visual acuity and location/extent of macular thickening
based on optical coherence tomography scans. According to the International Clinical Classification
Scale, DME is divided into no center-involving DME and center-involving DME (CI-DME). New
guidelines recommend intravitreal treatment as the treatment of choice for patients with CI-DME
and moderate visual impairment. Patients with no CI-DME and mild visual impairment should be
treated with modified ETDRS laser photocoagulation and closely observed. Vitrectomy is the treatment
of choice for patients with a tractional component of DME. Nowadays, traditional treatment
goal of preventing blindness in patients with DME has been changed by the new goal aiming to
restore impaired vision, prevent further vision...

Source: Acta Clinica Croatica - November 10, 2017 Category: General Medicine Tags: Acta Clin Croat Source Type: research