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The culprit of blurred vision! How does macular edema quietly destroy our vision?
In our daily lives, eye health is often ignored. Macular edema is a potential threat that may unknowingly erode our vision. Macular edema is a deposit of fluid and protein in the macula area of the eye, an important part of the retina responsible for clear central vision. When the macula swells, it may affect our reading ability, color recognition and detail observation, leading to deterioration of vision.
Causes of macular edema
The causes of macular edema are complex and diverse, usually related to multiple factors, especially diabetes. As diabetes progresses, especially type 2 diabetes that is not well controlled, it may affect peripheral blood vessels, causing the blood vessels in the retina to leak, eventually forming edema.
"Macular edema may have its roots in a variety of diseases, including diabetes and age-related macular degeneration."
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may also cause this condition. As we age, the macular area may undergo natural deterioration, leading to the formation of deposits in the retina, along with abnormal blood vessel growth. Additionally, pseudocataract macular edema may occur after cataract surgery, often due to leakage caused by ocular irritation from the surgery.
Chronic uveitis and intermittent uveitis can also cause macular edema. Retinal vein occlusion can also cause edema, which may be affected by diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and glaucoma. Certain medications, such as certain retinal antiglaucoma drugs, may also increase the risk of macular edema.
Diagnostic methods
Doctors usually make a preliminary diagnosis of macular edema based on symptoms and a vision test. A commonly used classification is cystic macular edema (CME), which is characterized by fluid deposits in the outer layer of the retina. Diabetic macular edema (DME), meanwhile, is related to leakage from retinal capillaries and is the leading cause of vision loss in diabetic retinopathy.
"Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing vision loss caused by macular edema."
Treatment Options
Treatment options for macular edema, especially postoperative edema, vary on a case-by-case basis. Most postoperative conditions can be effectively treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops or corticosteroid eye drops. For patients with diabetic macular edema, laser photocoagulation is widely used to reduce the chance of vision loss.
A number of drugs are currently approved for treatment, including: Lucentis, Eylea and Vabysmo. These are all injectable treatments designed to treat macular edema or wet age-related macular degeneration caused by diabetes.
The latest research results
In the past few years, research on the treatment of macular edema has gradually deepened. A Cochrane Systematic Review reported on the effectiveness of anti-VEGF therapy, showing that it can help patients reduce symptoms of macular edema, while steroid therapy has also been explored to improve visual ability.
"With the development of science and technology, the treatment of macular edema is also constantly improving."
In addition, there are studies examining the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs for macular edema associated with uveitis, but corresponding randomized controlled trials are still lacking. This suggests that there is still much room for exploration in the treatment of macular edema.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, the threat of macular edema to vision cannot be underestimated. However, with the advancement of medical technology and the promotion of new treatments, patients’ opportunities for effective treatment are increasing. As lifestyle changes and age increases, how to protect our vision from various eye diseases may be a question that every adult should think about?
