There are two different laser treatments to treat diabetic retinopathy. One laser treatment is used to treat diabetic macular edema, the most common "complication" of diabetic retinopathy. The second laser treatment is used to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy (aka PDR), yet far fewer people develop this potentially blinding stage of the disease. Same Laser Used for Both … [Read more...]
Emerging Treatments for Diabetic Macular Edema
June 28, 2010 By 1 Comment
The standard treatment for diabetic macular edema is still laser photocoagulation (laser treatment). The treatment has been utilized for about 30 years, yet newer, and better, treatments are on the horizon. Diabetic macular edema is the biggest, most common, complication of diabetic retinopathy. Most patients with diabetes will develop some degree of this type of retinal … [Read more...]
Combination Injections for Diabetic Retinopathy
May 12, 2010 By 4 Comments
Injecting both Avastin and a steroid injection can be a useful way to treat stubborn macular edema from diabetic retinopathy. While both can be used alone to treat macular swelling in diabetic patients, the combination is sometimes considered as an alternative. Traditional Laser The gold standard has been to treat diabetic macular edema with laser treatment. This has been a very effective … [Read more...]
Mr. Ozurdex’s Vision is Sustained
March 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
"Mr. Ozurdex" is a patient in whom I injected Ozurdex® for the treatment of a branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Ozurdex, is the first sustained release drug delivery system for the eye. It was FDA approved for the treatment of retinal vein occlusions last summer (RVO). Allergan began marketing Ozurdex shortly after the FDA approval. Mr. Ozurdex was given an intraocular injection … [Read more...]
Macular Edema: So Many Types
February 18, 2010 By 2 Comments
Macular edema simply means accumulation, or build-up, of fluid of the macula. Synonyms include; clinically significant macular edema (CSME), diabetic macular edema (DME), cystoid macular edema (CME) and retinal edema. There are slight nuances with some of the terms, but basically it means "swelling." Macular Edema - a generic term indicating fluid build up in the macula, but can be from any … [Read more...]
“Mrs. Ozurdex” Does Not See Well
January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Ok, so Mr. Ozurdex is doing well. What about Mrs. Ozurdex? "Mrs. Ozurdex" (the names have been changed to remain HIPAA compliant) came to my office in November with complaints of sudden, painless loss of vision in her left eye. I diagnosed her with a central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Again, this is a different diagnosis, and problem, than diabetic retinopathy or macular … [Read more...]
Eye Injections Challenge Eye Laser for Diabetic Retinopathy
December 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
There is a small study just published in the journal "Ophthalmology" stating that intraocular injections of Lucentis® were superior to laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. As you read this, don't forget that the "gold-standard" for treatment of diabetic macular edema is still laser photocoagulation. These "studies" are very small and not of the caliber needed to … [Read more...]
Retina Laser Treatment Saves Vision
December 1, 2009 By 3 Comments
There are two conditions where laser treatment is needed in patients with diabetic retinopathy: macular edema and evidence of proliferative retinopathy. In cases where macular edema, swelling of the retina in the macular area, is present, "focal" photocoagulation is needed. In cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, "pan-retinal photocoagulation," or PRP, is needed. Focal Laser … [Read more...]
