Treatments and Strategies to Maintain Vision
- Not all diabetic retinopathy needs treatment, but when it does, it is tailored specifically for each patient.1 Treatment for diabetic retinopathy has been found to be effective in preventing severe vision loss. 2
- Mild and moderate stages of diabetic retinopathy will be monitored with frequent follow up appointments with your eye doctor. 1
- Severe or proliferative retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME) will likely require prompt treatment.1
- Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP): A laser is used to make many small burns in the retina to reduce the formation of new leaky blood vessels. 3
- Focal Laser: A laser used to make one or a few small burns in the retina to treat leaky blood vessels. 4
- Anti-VEGF medication: This medication is injected into the eye to prevent blood vessels from leaking and prevent abnormal blood vessel growth.5 It is also used to decrease swelling from diabetic macular edema (DME). 6
- Corticosteroid medication: This medication is injected into the eye to reduce inflammation and swelling in the retina. 1
- Get a yearly eye examination with dilating eye drops, even if you do not have symptoms 1
- Contact your eye doctor if you experience vision changes
- Don’t delay treatment: The better your vision is prior to treatment, the better your vision will be after treatment 7
- Stop smoking 8
- If you have already been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, know how often your doctor wants to see you for follow up and stick to the schedule
- Monitor your blood sugar levels and know your hemoglobin A1c level 9
- Take your medications as prescribed
Taking part in a clinical trial can be a great way to help improve treatment for your eye disease. Your participation can help both you and others who may benefit from the treatment if it is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the future. Here are a few things to consider about participating in a clinical trial:
- Ask your eye doctor about clinical trials related to your eye disease.
- If your eye doctor says you may be a good candidate for a clinical trial, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the trial. Some possible questions: What would you need to do to participate? How many visits/appointments are needed related to the trial? Is there any assistance with transportation costs for trial-related appointments?
- If you speak another language, find out if trial-related paperwork is available in your native language.
Before you join the trial, leaders of the clinical trial will let you know what you need to do to participate. They can also let you know how you can leave the trial if you choose to do so. Providing information about the trial and letting you know about any potential treatment side effects is called informed consent.10
For more information about clinical trials, click here to access a variety of educational videos and information about medical research, as well as important questions to ask provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).11 Sharing this information with your provider can help you identify appropriate trials for your retinal condition and support discussions on whether or not participation in a clinical trial is right for you.
References
- Flaxel CJ, Adelman RA, Bailey ST, et al. Diabetic Retinopathy Preferred Practice Pattern. Ophthalmology. 2020;127(1): PP66-PP145.
- Ferris FL III. How effective are treatments for diabetic retinopathy? JAMA. 1993;269(10)1290-1291.
- The Diabetic Retinopathy Study Group. Indications for photocoagulation treatments of diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic Retinopathy Study Report no. 14. Int Ophthalmology Clin. 1987;27(4):239-253.
- Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group. Treatment techniques and clinic guidelines for photocoagulation of diabetic macular edema. ETDRS study report number 2. Ophthalmology. 1987;94:761-774.
- Writing Committee for the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinic Research Network. Panretinal photocoagulation vs intravitreous ranibizumab for proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;314:2137-2146.
- Mitchell P, Bandello F, Schmidt Erfurth U, et al. The RESTORE study: ranibizumab monotherapy or combined with laser versus laser monotherapy for diabetic macular edema. Ophthalmology. 2011;188:615-625.
- Sophie R, Lu N, Campochiaro PA. Predictors of functional and anatomical outcomes in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab. Ophthalmology. 2015;122 (7):1395-1401.
- Omae T, Nagaoka T, Yoshida A. Effects of Habitual Cigarette Smoking on Retinal Circulation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2016; 57: 1345-1351.
- Ferris FL III, Nathan DM. Editorial. Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy Progression. Ophthalmology. 2016; 123 (9): P1840-P1842.
- US Food and Drug Administration. Clinical trial diversity. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/ minority-health-and-health-equity-resources/clinical-trial-diversity
- HHS, Office for Human Research Protections. About research participation. https://www.hhs. gov/ohrp/education-and-outreach/about-research-participation/index.html
