Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. The direct cause of this irreversible loss of sight is diabetic macular edema, which affects more than 126 million people worldwide. In order to confirm the diagnosis, specific studies, such as fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT), should be carried out to determine the degree and type of edema. We review recent efficacy and safety data for the therapies currently existing to reduce progression and recover vision in Diabetic Macular Edema. In addition, there is the high cost of treatment of macular edema, as well as the risks involved in the application of drugs used for this disease. We therefore decided to carry out this review in order to evaluate the effectiveness of different therapies for the management of diabetic macular edema. The growing controversy over treatment for this complication has led to a constant conflict over what the best therapeutic option for the affected individuals is. Alternatives for supplementation have also been sought out with studies that support the efficacy of their use in treating this disease.

Keywords: Anti-VEGF; Diabetic Retinopathy; Lutein; Macular Edema; Oxidative-Stress; Therapies

Abbreviations: OCT: Optical Coherence Tomography; DR: Diabetic Retinopathy; DME: Diabetic Macular Edema; VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; DRCR: Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research; ILM: Internal Limiting Membrane