It can be difficult to recognize the symptoms of the DME because they can come gradually. You may think you need new glasses, or it may not seem to be a big problem – at first. “Patients are becoming symptomatic because they notice that their central vision becomes vague,” explains Diana Do, MD, professor of ophthalmology and vice-president of clinical affairs in Byers Eye Institute of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. This affects the ability of a person to read, clearly see to drive and do daily activities in general. “Often, when a patient has diabetic macular edema, his symptoms cannot be corrected with prescription glasses, because damage occurs in the retina,” she adds.
“The DME affects the quality of life in so many different ways, at home and outside,” explains Michael Abramoff, MD, a retina specialist and professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the Iowa University in the city of Iowa. “This can lead to a loss of perception, a loss of color and a loss of pleasure of what you have previously been able to do.”
These central vision challenges can transform different areas of life, including:
- Work With DME, everything, from reading to faces can become more difficult while you are at work. “A symptomatic patient may have trouble seeing the computer screen or reading documents, which can certainly affect their work performance,” explains Dr Do.
- Hobby and exercise You must be able to see well to move and stay active. “A patient with a decreased vision due to diabetic macular edema may not be able to see clearly in order to go safely, play tennis or make other hobbies,” explains Do.
- Social life and relations Living with the DME can affect your emotional well-being, mental health, routines and social relationships. A study revealed that people who felt vision problems interfere with daily life and had higher anxiety were more likely to be depressed, regardless of the severity of the ocular condition really. This can cause increased insulation, as well as more tense relationships, especially when you are unable to move as easily as before. “Patients with vision loss can lose their independence, as they cannot see good enough to sail in the world, which can lead to less interactions with their friends and their families,” explains Do.
- Finances Be unable to do your job as you can also affect your income, especially if you lose your job or work for less hours. This is one of the many reasons why DME treatment is so important. A study revealed that the treatment of the DME has provided economic value for both people with the disease and their community, as it has improved all kinds of results, including employment.
In addition to all these problems, people with DME often need to manage other diabetes complications. “Diabetic macular edema does not exist in a vacuum. It is likely that diabetes also affects other parts of a person’s systemic health, ”explains Do. For example, many DME patients also have kidney problems. All together, these problems can make it more difficult to stay connected to the outside world.
