Macular edema is the swelling or thickening of the macula of the eye, the part of the eye responsible for central vision.
The macula is a very small area in the center of the retina. Light rays are focused on the retina, where they are transmitted to the brain and transformed into the images which you see. The macula is responsible for the detailed and focused vision.
Macular edema develops when the blood vessels in the retina leak fluids. The macula doesn’t function properly when it is swollen. Loss of vision can be anywhere from light to heavy, but in many cases peripheral vision is not affected.
Macular edema is a frequent complication of diabetic retinopathy and is the most frequent type of vision loss for people with diabetes, especially when it is not treated.
There are many reasons for macular edema. Sometimes, fatty deposits can show up inside the retina.
Some of the other reasons for macular edema include:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Uveitis
- Retinal veinous occlusion
- Occlusion of the small veins of the retina due to radiation, macular telangiectasia
- Side effects from some medications
- Some genetic diseases such as retinoschisis or retinitis pigmentosa
The macular edema is often painless and can show few symptoms while developing.