Managing risk factors
To slow down the progression of diabetic macular oedema (DMO) it’s important that you manage your controllable risk factors.
- Weight and physical activity: Regular physical activity helps insulin to work better. It also lowers blood pressure, and helps reduce weight. These are all important factors in reducing the risk of diabetic retinopathy and DMO.
- Blood glucose: Persistently high blood glucose levels are a risk factor for serious vision loss and blindness.
- High blood pressure: If you have diabetes plus high blood pressure, you’re more likely to experience faster progression of DMO.
- Blood lipids: Elevated blood lipids, including cholesterol, should be managed with diet. In many cases, your doctor will prescribe medication.
- Smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of blindness. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about strategies to quit smoking.
Treatment options for diabetic macular oedema
Intravitreal injections, also known as eye injections or IVI, are now the mainstay of treatment for DMO. Eye injections have greatly improved the chances of preventing major visual loss from diabetic macular oedema. This is especially true if you catch the condition in its early stages.
An intravitreal injection involves the injection of a medication into the eye. This is usually a medication that acts against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). You may hear it referred to as an anti-VEGF injection.
Your ophthalmologist may also use anti-inflammatory steroids in some cases.
Eye injections can stabilise or even improve vision for many people. It’s important to know that injections usually need to be repeated often. You may need injections each month, for many months, to ensure the best outcomes.
In some cases, your ophthalmologist may decide to use laser treatment to treat diabetic macular oedema.
Side effects or adverse events of treatment
Tell your ophthalmologist if you have any problems after an eye injection
If you experience any problems, or any new or unusual symptoms after an eye injection, contact your eye health professional as soon as possible.
In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000) or ask someone to take you to your nearest hospital emergency department.
It is important to report side effects or adverse events
In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) monitors the safety of all eye injection treatments and other medicines and therapeutic devices registered for use.
To do this, the TGA relies on consumers and health professionals reporting any information they have about adverse events, side effects and reactions they have noticed or experienced.
Everyone in Australia can play a role in helping to monitor the safety of eye injections and other medicines or treatments by reporting this information to the TGA.
You can find out more here: Overview of adverse event reporting for medicines | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
How to report an adverse event to the TGA
Anyone can report an adverse event to the TGA. You can also submit a report on behalf of someone else.
You can make a report online or by phone.
We encourage you to report any adverse events or side effects or reactions that you notice after an eye injection, or about any medicine you are taking.
You can report an adverse event here: Reporting adverse events for consumers | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
