They highlight the importance of timely detection of diabetic macular edema

Diabetic macular edema is an eye complication of diabetes that can lead to severe vision loss and yet remains largely unknown to both the general public and health administrations. This is emphasized by Dr. Marta Medina, a specialist in Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Puerta del Mar and Oftalvist-HLA La Salud. The expert participated in Conexión Readyt, a scientific conference organized by AbbVie with the endorsement of the Spanish Society of Retina and Vitreous (SERV), which recently brought together expert retinologists at several simultaneously connected physical locations. Andalusia is the autonomous community with the highest prevalence of diabetes in Spain.

“Diabetic macular edema is tremendously important, although little known, because it is one of the pathologies responsible for vision loss in individuals who are usually of working age,” explains Dr. Medina. “Thus, the socioeconomic impact is quite significant.” In fact, 20% of people with type 1 diabetes and 25% with type 2 diabetes develop this complication over their lifetime, and it is estimated that the number of affected individuals in Spain will increase from more than 430,000 recorded in 2021 to over 1.6 million by 2030.

The specialist points out that the damage to the retina is microvascular in origin, identical to that caused by diabetes in other organs, making the eye a diagnostic window. “The fact that a patient has easily detectable diabetic retinopathy makes us think that they probably have another systemic alteration,” she states.

Regarding the evolution that the clinical approach has undergone in recent years, Medina clarifies that, despite “always having had very limited treatment, both medical and surgical, for diabetic macular edema, research has advanced significantly recently and therapeutic innovations are emerging in its approach.”

This progress has allowed a shift towards precision personalized medicine, “adapting the treatment to each type of patient”. “Not only taking into account whether they have edema or not, or how long they have had diabetes, or the severity of the disease, but also many other characteristics: the patient's daily life, genetic factors that may predispose them, or other types of pathology that may influence.”

The specialist insists that one of the most important lessons from recent years is the need to reinforce early diagnosis. “The sooner we do it, the better,” she states. Therefore, “screening programs are essential and diabetic reviews are strictly necessary.”

Andalusia is, in this regard, a pioneering community. Since 2004, a diabetic retinopathy screening program has been implemented in coordination with Primary Care. “Complementary tests are performed in primary care, they analyze these tests and when they have any doubts they have direct connection with the ophthalmologist who diagnoses remotely. And if the patient needs a more specific diagnosis, they are referred to the ophthalmology consultation,” describes Dr. Medina.

“Many patients live with a feeling of misunderstanding”

Among the areas for improvement to advance the well-being of affected individuals, Dr. Marta Medina highlights that “the disease has a significant emotional and psychological impact, exacerbated by the limited awareness of it both among the population and in the health administration.” This lack of social sensitivity generates “feelings of misunderstanding and little empathy in many patients.” Moreover, she emphasizes that “vision is the most valued sense by people, and its loss not only affects the patient's autonomy but also deeply impacts their quality of life.”