Barraquer Eye Hospital: Offering new hope for diabetic eye disease

Diabetic eye disease remains one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide.

It is estimated that over 100 million people globally live with some form of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and this number is expected to rise sharply as diabetes becomes more common. Nearly one in three people with diabetes will develop signs of retinopathy during their lifetime, and around 7 per cent will experience diabetic macular edema (DME) — the swelling of the central retina responsible for sharp vision.

For many years, treatment options were limited mainly to laser photocoagulation, which helped slow down vision loss but rarely restored sight.

The introduction of anti-VEGF injections as a treatment mostly for DME more than a decade ago completely transformed the outlook for these patients, allowing not just stabilisation but often significant visual improvement.

Since then, the field has continued to evolve rapidly — with new drugs, implants, and delivery systems designed to make treatment longer-lasting, safer, and more convenient.

Here’s an overview of the most important new treatments and research developments in diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

For more than a decade, eye injections that block a substance called VEGF — which causes leaky, fragile blood vessels — have been the standard of care for DME and DR.

Medications like Eylea (Aflibercept) and Lucentis (Ranibizumab) are highly effective, but they usually require injections every month or two.

Recently, new-generation treatments are helping reduce that burden, thus decreasing the frequency of hospital visits and improving the quality of life of the patients.

The newest dual-action drug works on two pathways to better stabilise blood vessels.

This allows for longer intervals between injections, often every 3–4 months while maintaining excellent vision results.

This newer, higher-dose version of Eylea provides the same medicine but in a more concentrated form, allowing it to stay active in the eye for longer. Many patients can now extend treatment intervals to 4 or even 5 months while maintaining good control of macular edema.

One of the most innovative options, Susvimo is a small refillable implant that continuously releases medicine inside the eye. It uses the same active drug as Lucentis (Ranibizumab), but provides a steady, long-term release.

It’s surgically placed on the wall of the eyeball (the sclera), just under the upper eyelid, directed to the inside of the eye.

Instead of injections every few weeks, the device can be refilled only about twice a year in the clinic – a major relief for patients tired of frequent injections.

Sometimes, anti-VEGF drugs alone aren’t enough. When inflammation plays a role, steroid implants can be helpful. These treatments are not new but still have a role in the treatment of DME.

These are especially useful for chronic or recurrent swelling, though they require monitoring for possible side effects such as increased eye pressure or cataract formation.

The word laser often sounds intimidating, but today’s laser technology is much gentler on the retina.

Modern micropulse or subthreshold lasers treat the retina without burning it; they use very short pulses that stimulate the retina’s metabolism and help it absorb fluid naturally.

For mild or early diabetic macular edema, or in combination with injections, these lasers can reduce the number of treatments needed and help maintain stability.

New AI-powered retinal cameras can detect diabetic eye disease in just seconds — even in clinics or pharmacies — allowing early referral to specialists before vision is affected. In the UAE and worldwide, these systems are becoming more common, improving screening access for people living far from hospitals.

Researchers are now developing gene therapies and biodegradable delivery systems that could protect the retina for years after a single treatment.

Some experimental treatments aim to make the eye produce small amounts of anti-VEGF naturally — like turning it into a mini factory for its own medicine.Others target inflammation, oxidative stress, or abnormal blood vessel growth through new biological pathways.

The future goal is simple: better vision, fewer injections, longer relief.

If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, they remain the foundation of good eye health.

Get your eyes checked at least once a year, even if your vision feels normal. Vision loss from diabetes is often preventable, especially when the disease is detected and treated early.

Ask your doctor about newer, longer-acting treatments, if you already have DME or DR.

For more information about new treatment options, visit www.barraquer.com; Call 04 573 9999 or 800 234823 for appointments.