Blind Spots: Gaps in Disease Knowledge and the Role of Patient Education for Canadians With Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Over a decade ago, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections emerged as a viable treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME), the leading cause of new blindness among working-age adults in North America (1). By targeting VEGF, the signal protein that stimulates abnormal blood vessel growth in DME, the injections offered a new approach to managing vision loss resulting from DME, largely replacing vitrectomy and laser surgery as frontline therapy (2,3). Time-release implants have been used in some cases, as well, and show promise (4).