Macular edema is swelling or fluid retention in a specialized part of the retina called themacula.The macula is located in the back of the eye and provides us with clear, central vision. It is the part of theretinawe use when we “aim” our vision to look at a target. Fluid can build up in the macula from abnormal, leaking blood vessels. When macula edema occurs, central vision becomes distorted or decreased.
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Causes
Macular edema can be a sign or symptom of many other conditions.Diabetes is the most common cause of macular edema. Macular edema is also common in people that have uncontrolled high blood pressure. Certain eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and uveitis can also cause macular edema. Macular edema can also be a complication of eye surgery. Certain medications used to treat glaucoma such as latanoprost (Xalatan) have also been known on rare occasion to cause macular edema.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Macular edema is treated differently depending on the underlying cause. For example, if uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure is the cause, treatment may be aimed at controlling those conditions first. However, if symptoms are severe or if the doctor is concerned that the edema can cause vision loss or damage, it will be treated with medications or injections.
Often, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is prescribed in the form of an eye drop. This may have to be taken for several weeks and sometimes months to control the edema. Doctors will also prescribe corticosteroids the form of a topical eye drop or oral pills. Corticosteroids can also be injected in or around the eye.
Another class of drug called anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drugs are being injected directly into the eye. This fairly new class of drug acts to shrink existing abnormal blood vessels and to prevent the growth of new leaky blood vessels.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Macular edema.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What causes macular edema?.Faes L, Bodmer N, Bachmann L, Thiel M, Schmid M.Diagnostic accuracy of the Amsler grid and the preferential hyperacuity perimetry in the screening of patients with age-related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis.Eye. 2014 May;28(7):788-796. doi:10.1038/eye.2014.104Srinivasan P, Kim L, Mettu P, et al.Fully automated detection of diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration from optical coherence tomography images.Biomed Opt Express. 2014;5(10):3568. doi:10.1364/BOE.5.003568Elnahry AG, Abdel-Kader AA, Habib AE, Elnahry GA, Raafat KA, Elrakhawy K.Review on recent trials evaluating the effect of intravitreal injections of anti-vegf agents on the macular perfusion of diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema.RRCT. 2020 Jun;15(3):188-198. doi:10.2174/1574887115666200519073704Russo A, Costagliola C, Delcassi L, et al.Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for macular edema.Mediators of Inflammation. 2013 Oct;2013(1):1-11. doi:10.1155/2013/476525Boyer DS, Hopkins JJ, Sorof J, Ehrlich JS.Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for diabetic macular edema.Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;4(6):151-169. doi:10.1177/2042018813512360
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eye Institute.Macular edema.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What causes macular edema?.Faes L, Bodmer N, Bachmann L, Thiel M, Schmid M.Diagnostic accuracy of the Amsler grid and the preferential hyperacuity perimetry in the screening of patients with age-related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis.Eye. 2014 May;28(7):788-796. doi:10.1038/eye.2014.104Srinivasan P, Kim L, Mettu P, et al.Fully automated detection of diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration from optical coherence tomography images.Biomed Opt Express. 2014;5(10):3568. doi:10.1364/BOE.5.003568Elnahry AG, Abdel-Kader AA, Habib AE, Elnahry GA, Raafat KA, Elrakhawy K.Review on recent trials evaluating the effect of intravitreal injections of anti-vegf agents on the macular perfusion of diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema.RRCT. 2020 Jun;15(3):188-198. doi:10.2174/1574887115666200519073704Russo A, Costagliola C, Delcassi L, et al.Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for macular edema.Mediators of Inflammation. 2013 Oct;2013(1):1-11. doi:10.1155/2013/476525Boyer DS, Hopkins JJ, Sorof J, Ehrlich JS.Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for diabetic macular edema.Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;4(6):151-169. doi:10.1177/2042018813512360
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Eye Institute.Macular edema.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What causes macular edema?.Faes L, Bodmer N, Bachmann L, Thiel M, Schmid M.Diagnostic accuracy of the Amsler grid and the preferential hyperacuity perimetry in the screening of patients with age-related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis.Eye. 2014 May;28(7):788-796. doi:10.1038/eye.2014.104Srinivasan P, Kim L, Mettu P, et al.Fully automated detection of diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration from optical coherence tomography images.Biomed Opt Express. 2014;5(10):3568. doi:10.1364/BOE.5.003568Elnahry AG, Abdel-Kader AA, Habib AE, Elnahry GA, Raafat KA, Elrakhawy K.Review on recent trials evaluating the effect of intravitreal injections of anti-vegf agents on the macular perfusion of diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema.RRCT. 2020 Jun;15(3):188-198. doi:10.2174/1574887115666200519073704Russo A, Costagliola C, Delcassi L, et al.Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for macular edema.Mediators of Inflammation. 2013 Oct;2013(1):1-11. doi:10.1155/2013/476525Boyer DS, Hopkins JJ, Sorof J, Ehrlich JS.Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for diabetic macular edema.Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;4(6):151-169. doi:10.1177/2042018813512360
National Eye Institute.Macular edema.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What causes macular edema?.
Faes L, Bodmer N, Bachmann L, Thiel M, Schmid M.Diagnostic accuracy of the Amsler grid and the preferential hyperacuity perimetry in the screening of patients with age-related macular degeneration: systematic review and meta-analysis.Eye. 2014 May;28(7):788-796. doi:10.1038/eye.2014.104
Srinivasan P, Kim L, Mettu P, et al.Fully automated detection of diabetic macular edema and dry age-related macular degeneration from optical coherence tomography images.Biomed Opt Express. 2014;5(10):3568. doi:10.1364/BOE.5.003568
Elnahry AG, Abdel-Kader AA, Habib AE, Elnahry GA, Raafat KA, Elrakhawy K.Review on recent trials evaluating the effect of intravitreal injections of anti-vegf agents on the macular perfusion of diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema.RRCT. 2020 Jun;15(3):188-198. doi:10.2174/1574887115666200519073704
Russo A, Costagliola C, Delcassi L, et al.Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for macular edema.Mediators of Inflammation. 2013 Oct;2013(1):1-11. doi:10.1155/2013/476525
Boyer DS, Hopkins JJ, Sorof J, Ehrlich JS.Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for diabetic macular edema.Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology. 2013 Dec;4(6):151-169. doi:10.1177/2042018813512360
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