What is Macular Edema?

Desert Retina Consultants retina specialists provide treatment for macular edema no matter the cause. Macular edema may be caused by diabetes, hypertension, macular degeneration, and ocular inflammation. 

Macular edema is another word for macular swelling. Macular edema comes from leaky blood vessels that course below or within the retinal layers. On a microscopic level, abnormal retinal blood vessel walls allow fluid to pass from the bloodstream into the retina, distorting the standard retinal architecture.

The macula is the central part of your retina that allows precise vision for activities such as reading, driving, or recognizing the fine details in faces and objects.

What are the symptoms of Macular Edema?

Macular edema is not painful and doesn’t always have symptoms early on in the disease. However, symptoms generally occur along with complications, such as leaking blood vessels – or vein occlusion. If you notice symptoms, call our office for an appointment

Common symptoms of macular edema include:

• Blurred or wavy central vision
• Colors appear washed out or different
• Having difficulty reading

How is Macular Edema Treated?

Treatments for Macular Edema at Desert Retina Consultants include:

• Annual vision monitoring with dilated eye exams
• Eye Drops: In most cases, macular edema after eye surgeries or eye inflammations can be successfully treated with eye drops.
• Laser treatments
• Intra-vitreal or peri-ocular injections of steroids (in selective cases)
• Intra-vitreal injections – Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drugs into the vitreous cavity (retina location) can be a highly effective treatment for macular edema. Most patients require a series of injections, so they require periodic monitoring to evaluate when additional treatments with anti-VEGF agents are needed.