Emerging therapies for diabetic macular edema

Diabetic macular edema remains an important cause of vision loss among patients with diabetes mellitus. Improved control of blood pressure and blood sugar, as well as photocoagulation, are effective in many patients. However, some patients continue to lose vision despite treatment. Emerging therapies may be divided into pharmacologic and surgical interventions. Pharmacologic therapies include locally administered agents, such as corticosteroids and VEGF antagonists, and systemically administered agents, such as ruboxistaurin. No medication is currently approved by the US FDA for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Surgical approaches include pars plana vitrectomy techniques. As data from randomized clinical trials accumulate, the precise role for each of these therapies will emerge.