Understand Your Diabetic Macular Edema
Over time, when diabetes isn’t well-managed, blood sugar can be too high for too long. Along with many other complications, the high blood sugar can cause damage to blood vessels in the retina of the eye. The retina, a specialized nerve layer that lines the inner eye wall, is responsible for sensing light and sending images to your brain; basically, it allows you to see. When blood vessels in the retina are damaged, the vessels can become leaky. Sometimes, the leaky blood vessels cause swelling on the retina, and we call that diabetic macular edema (DME). This is one of the main reasons diabetics can lose vision, which is why it’s crucial patients are educated and know the steps to take care of their eyes.