It is an accumulation of extracellular fluid in the macular retina causing it to thicken.
Edema is the main cause of decreased visual acuity in diabetic patients.
At a late stage, cystoid macular edema is called when the accumulation of extracellular fluid occurs in concentric pockets at the foveola. In this case, patients complain of decreased visual acuity associated with metamorphopsia (image distortion) and sometimes a central scotoma.
It will first be necessary to balance the diabetes and/or associate an anti-inflammatory treatment before considering a treatment such as: Laser, intravitreal injection.
Healing may be partial or total. However, macular edema may develop into a macular hole (see chapter macular hole).
