Home / Procedures / Macugen in Diabetic Maculopathy
- Diabetic Retinopathy- Treatment Modalities
Diabetic maculopathy is a major ca
use of reduced vision in diabetic patients. It involves the central and most vital part of the eye (called macula).
At present, treatment for this disease includes either laser or injection of steroid (triamcinolone) into the eye. ( Intra Vitreal injection)
Laser treatment is still a standard of care for retinopathy related to diabetes in the eye but for macular treatment laser therapy is now being considered less and less since it tends to burn the macula and reduces final visual recovery achieved even though the condition stabilizes.
The steroid injection is a useful management option which improves vision but carries a side effect of raising the pressure of the eye (glaucoma) which can lead to further permanent loss of vision if not treated in time.
Besides, diabetes being a life-long disease, multiple laser sittings or injections may be needed thus increasing the damage and risks.
But now there is another option available in the form of Macugen. This is also an injection to be given into the eye. It has been approved by the FDA (USA) for the treatment of age related macular degeneration (ARMD) and is undergoing a phase 3 clinical trial for final approvals for its use in diabetics.
Practically, it has already been used for diabetic maculopathy and has been shown to reduce the macular edema without damaging the retina and without causing glaucoma. As a result, even repeat injections are safe.
Retina Foundation is also a part of this worldwide clinical trial from India
Acknowledgements
Last Reviewed by Dr Anil Patil 16th April,2008
