Q: What treatments are there for diabetic eye disease?

Laser treatment

This is the standard treatment for diabetic retinopathy and has the longest track record and is still the most applied treatment.

For Maculopathy (CMO): Focal laser and /or a grid type laser are applied to the centre of the retina to decrease the thickening. Anything between 1–150 laser shots are applied in one visit.

For Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Peripheral laser treatment is applied to the retina to reduce and eliminate the newly developed blood vessels. The laser destroys some of the outer part of the retina leading to a decreased need for oxygen in the eye and resolving the problem of the new blood vessels. 1200–2000 laser shots are applied, in one or more sessions.

Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections

For Maculopathy (CMO): Ranibizumab was approved for the use in CMO. Ranibizumab blocks a growth factor protein in the eye and stops blood vessels leaking and new blood vessels from growing, although only temporarily. 

For Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Ranibizumab injections lead to temporary closure of the new blood vessels caused by Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Vitrectomy

An operation where the gel in the eye (vitreous) is removed by a cutting device.