diabetes reaches epidemic proportions in the United States with more than 26 million Americans currently suffer with this serious disease. The most common complications of the eye is bleeding in the retina and macular swelling. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among young Americans, and the swelling of the retina is characterized by chronic, long-term inflammation of the retina.
In an attempt to treat this very serious inflammatory condition, steroid injections directly into the affected eye. It should be noted that this therapeutic modality in non-FDA approved, but the doctors have continued to employ, because it was effective in reducing the swelling. The problem has long been that this treatment has significantly increased risk for complications of the eye. In addition, frequent injections every few months to for the therapy to be effective.
The steroid injections reduce retinal thickness thus vision. The steroids that inhibit inflammation by suppression of endothelial growth. This in turn reduces the vascular damage. These positive results only over the last 3 months, but the potential side effects include cataracts, increased pressure in the eye, endophthalmitis (severe inflammation) and uveitis.
The objective is to increase the effectiveness of steroids without the negative side effects. Intraocular implants were in the vicinity of the workers before the eye, behind the natural lens, for the treatment of retinal diseases several conditions. These include cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, and posterior. These implants require sutures, and thus an increased risk of infection if used.
Iluvien is an injectable steroid that is currently under FDA investigation for diabetic Macular Edema and lasts up to 3 years after injection. It is injected with a 25 needle, the seals themselves, not all the seams. It may also longer in the back of the eye for higher and better results, this will also reduce the chance of bad side effects so common with the other steroid injections.
This article is written by Dr. Jay Stockman, editor of VisionUpdate.net. Dr. Jay Stockman, with his partner Dr. Brian Lewy has co managed a significant amount of refractive surgery patients. Advise, and medical questions can be directed to http://newyorkvisionassociates.com New York Vision Associates.
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