Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

Diabetes is common among many people, and it is important in the treatment and follow-up of diabetes by the specialist doctor that the patient maintains that the blood sugar level is at safe rates according to the doctor’s instructions and the necessary follow-up examinations and analyzes.

It should be noted that if a person with diabetes is unable to control the level of sugar in the blood at safe rates for long periods, then he is at risk of developing various complications of diabetes.

One of these complications of diabetes on the retina; Infiltration behind the center of the retina as a result of vulnerability, inflammation, and recurrent hemorrhage in the retinal veins and arteries, known as Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).

DME center retinal infiltration has a clear effect on vision impairment, and the patient with this infiltration may see straight lines zigzag and impair accurate vision of close objects even with reading glasses, and the presence of this weakness can be tested or not by the board known as the Amsler grid.

Diabetic retinal infiltration is diagnosed through the patient’s complaint and knowing the extent of blood sugar control and the time of diabetes, as well as examining the fundus with a retinal endoscope or a microscopic examination with the slit lamp with the help of the special lens for this, and the diagnosis is confirmed by optical correlation tomography of the retinal center (eye socket) OCT Macula.

In the event that it is confirmed that the center of the diabetic retinopathy is infected, the attending physician may recommend several procedures for treatment and to maintain the levels of vision in the eyes, including;
1. Control general health and blood sugar level.
2. Tomography of the center of the retina in both eyes.
3. Treatment of diabetic retinopathy by intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF
4. The edges of the retina can be treated with a laser to secure the incidence of cataracts later with an argon laser.

Therefore, it is important to avoid infiltration of the diabetic retinopathy center to maintain general health and the level of sugar in the blood. Also, whoever has diabetes is keen to examine the fundus of the eye periodically every six months, even if he does not yet have complications from diabetes. The follow-up period is shortened in the event of complications from diabetes. Medical efforts are combined between internal medicine doctors and ophthalmologists to maintain the health and safety of people with diabetes and reduce the repercussions of potential complications on the various body systems.