Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Diabetic macular edema is a complication of diabetic retinopathy in which damaged blood vessels leak fluid into the macula — the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. This causes the macula to swell and thicken, blurring the central vision needed for reading, driving, and everyday tasks.
DME can develop at any stage of diabetic retinopathy and can affect one or both eyes. It is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people with diabetes — but it responds very well to treatment when caught early.
Treatment has improved dramatically in recent years. Anti-VEGF injections, which reduce the leakage and swelling, are now the first-line treatment and have helped many patients not just stabilize but actually regain vision.
- Blurred or wavy central vision
- Colors appearing faded or washed out
- Double vision (in some cases)
- Difficulty reading or seeing fine detail
- Sometimes no symptoms in early stages
How DME is treated
Anti-VEGF Injections
The primary treatment. These injections reduce leakage from damaged blood vessels, allowing the macula to dry out and vision to improve. Most patients need a series of injections.
Steroid Injections / Implants
For patients who do not respond fully to anti-VEGF, steroid treatments can help reduce swelling and inflammation.
Laser Treatment
Focal laser therapy can seal leaking blood vessels and reduce swelling in certain cases of DME.
Blood sugar control matters. Working with your diabetes doctor to keep blood sugar well-controlled is one of the most important things you can do to protect your vision. Dr. Smithen is happy to coordinate with your endocrinologist or primary care physician.