According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in Ophthalmology online (July 2008), corticosteroid therapy is less effective than traditional laser treatment for diabetic macular edema. What's more, the study showed, long-term corticosteroid treatment has considerably more adverse effects.
   Of the almost 700 patients in the study, about 28% of those treated with corticosteroids had substantial vision loss (at least two lines lower on a standard eye chart) after 2 years versus 19% of those treated with laser therapy. Plus, about one-half of those treated with corticosteroids needed cataract surgery versus 13% of the laser-treated group. A greater number of corticosteroid-treated patients also developed increased intraocular pressure.
   Of the 18 million people diagnosed with diabetes, about 45% have vision problems such as diabetic macular edema, which may lead to blindness. Because corticosteroid treatment did provide some benefit in the study, researchers are still considering the possibility of combining laser and corticosteroid treatment for some patients.

Home - Guest Registry - Customer Service

Brought to you by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
For help on how you should use this site, see our Disclaimer .

© Copyright 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins