The short answer
Diabetic macular oedema is fluid leaking from damaged blood vessels into the macula, the small central part of the retina you use for reading, faces and fine detail. It blurs or distorts central sight. It is found with a dilated examination and an OCT scan, and the usual treatment, when it affects central sight, is a course of anti-VEGF injections into the eye, sometimes with laser or steroid treatment.
Ask about diabetic eye treatmentMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
Early macular oedema can cause no symptoms at all, which is why yearly diabetic eye checks matter.
- Blurred central vision, especially for reading or your phone
- Straight lines looking wavy or bent
- Colours looking washed out
- Sight that changes from day to day
How it is found
Your eye doctor looks at the macula through dilated pupils, and an OCT scan, a quick painless photograph that shows the retina in cross section, measures how thick and waterlogged it is. The scan is repeated through treatment to see whether the swelling is going down.
Treatment
Swelling that does not involve the very centre may simply be watched closely. Your eye doctor will explain which group you are in.
- Anti-VEGF injections into the eye, usually monthly at first, then spaced out
- Steroid injections or implants, for some people, especially if injections have not worked well
- Laser to the macula, in selected cases
- Control of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol, which matters as much as any eye treatment
What it costs on Mezo
One fixed price, paid online.
Common questions
Will I go blind from macular oedema?
Macular oedema affects central sight, not side vision, so it does not usually cause total blindness. Untreated, it can badly damage reading and recognising faces. Treatment aims to protect and sometimes improve that sight.
Can glasses fix it?
No. Glasses correct focus, not swelling in the retina.
Does it come back?
It can, which is why scans continue after the swelling settles and injections are restarted if needed.
What does treatment cost on Mezo?
You get a written quote after the specialist's assessment, setting out the treatment planned.
The procedures
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Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- What is macular edema?. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Patient information.
- Aflibercept for treating diabetic macular oedema. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Diabetic retinopathy. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 23 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.