eye care 1 | Page 17

India is the diabetes capital of the world. Every fifth diabetic in the world is Indian. What is diabetic macular edema (DME)? DME is the build-up of fluid (edema) in a region of the retina called the macula. The macula is important for the sharp, straight-ahead vision that is used for reading, recognizing faces, and driving. DME is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetic retinopathy. Although it is more likely to occur as diabetic retinopathy worsens, DME can happen at any stage of the disease. What are the symptoms of Diabetic . Retinopathy • Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters) • Blurred vision. • Fluctuating vision. • Impaired color vision. • Dark or empty areas in your vision. • Vision loss Left untreated, Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to severe vision loss 14