HEALTH
The Impact of Diabetic Macular Edema: How It Affects Your Vision
Many people with diabetes today also suffer from diabetic macular edema (DME). Without quick action, individuals may lose part or all of their sight. Uncontrolled high blood sugar is behind diabetic macular edema. The high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. When these blood vessels leak fluid, it causes the macula region of the retina to swell. The macula is responsible for the sharp central vision required for activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces. As the macula thickens with fluid from leaking blood vessels, vision becomes distorted, hazy, and blurry. Left untreated, DME can cause permanent visual disability and loss of independence.
A Hidden Condition
DME usually develops slowly and painlessly. The first sign is often wavy, blurry, or obscured vision. Straight lines may appear crooked or bent. Colors may seem washed out or faded, and fine details become harder to see. Reading small print and recognizing faces becomes more difficult. Overall vision is shadowy, dull, and blurry. These vision changes may come and go at first. Without treatment, DME can progress over time and cause permanent vision loss. See an eye doctor regularly if you have diabetic macular edema or struggle with high blood sugar. Doing so will protect your sight.
The Impact of DME
The impact of DME on daily life can be significant. Loss of clear, sharp vision makes activities like reading, driving, watching TV, looking at a computer or smartphone screen, cooking, shopping, and doing housework much harder. Face blindness, the inability to recognize people, can cause social embarrassment. Poor vision at night combined with problems discerning color and contrast can make walking outside hazardous. Depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life often accompany progressive vision loss from uncontrolled DME.
Detection and Treatment
Fortunately, early detection and timely treatment of DME can prevent severe vision loss and disability in most cases. The key is having regular, comprehensive eye exams that check for DME. People with diabetes should receive a dilated eye exam at least once a year. The eye doctor will place drops in the eyes to dilate or widen the pupils and examine the retina at the back of the eye for signs of DME.
Several effective treatments are available for DME. The most common treatment is an injection of medication into the eye. These injections, typically repeated monthly, contain anti-VEGF drugs that inhibit the growth of abnormal blood vessels and reduce leakage and swelling in the macula. Most people achieve significant vision improvement with anti-VEGF injections. Laser surgery is another option. It seals leaking blood vessels with small bursts of laser light. Vitrectomy, a type of microsurgery, may be recommended when DME is severe.
Steps You Need to Take
The key to preserving vision when you have DME is to maintain good control of your blood sugar, get regular eye exams, and follow your eye doctor’s recommendations for treatment. Attending all medical appointments, taking medications as prescribed, eating a diabetic diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and managing stress can help stabilize diabetic eye disease. Prompt medical attention for any new vision changes is also critical to prevent permanent damage to the macula.
While living with DME can be challenging, following your treatment plan provides the best chance of maintaining your vision and independence. With regular eye care, the right lifestyle choices, and early intervention for DME, you can successfully manage your condition and reduce its impact on daily living. Don’t take your vision for granted. Take charge of your eye health by partnering closely with your medical team if you develop DME. Protecting your sight will allow you to keep enjoying all the beautiful views life has to offer.
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