Eye injections for diabetes: Modern therapy for your retina

Intravitreal injections of medication into the eyes, technically known as IVOM therapy, are the crucial and most effective treatment method for preserving vision in cases of advanced diabetic eye damage. One of the most common and serious eye complications of diabetes is diabetic macular edema, a swelling of the central retina that, if left untreated, leads to severe and permanent vision loss.¹ As your ophthalmologist in Frankfurt's Westend district, Dr. med. Mareen Schmidt specializes in diagnosing this disease early and treating it with a safe, low-pain and highly effective therapy.

Why eye injections become necessary in diabetes: Diabetic macular edema (DME)

Chronically elevated blood sugar levels damage the small and delicate blood vessels throughout the body over many years – including those in the retina of the eye. This damage is known as diabetic retinopathy.² The vessel walls become brittle and permeable, similar to a porous garden hose. This allows fluid to leak from the vessels into the surrounding retinal tissue.

When this fluid accumulation affects the macula, the point of sharpest vision in the center of the retina, it is called diabetic macular edema (DME). This swelling disrupts the function of the highly sensitive photoreceptor cells. The result is typical symptoms such as blurred, distorted, or fuzzy vision, which significantly impair reading and facial recognition.³ Without targeted treatment, this process progresses and can lead to irreversible damage. The need for Eye injections for diabetes It is created right here to combat this swelling.

The effect of eye injections in diabetes: Targeted blockade of VEGF.

The therapy with Eye injections for diabetes It directly addresses the cause of the swelling. The main culprit behind the increased vascular permeability is a naturally occurring messenger substance called VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). In cases of oxygen deficiency in the retina, as is typical in diabetes, this messenger substance is produced in excess. The medications injected during IVOM therapy (e.g., aflibercept or ranibizumab) are so-called VEGF inhibitors.⁴ They act like a highly specific "catcher" that binds and neutralizes the harmful VEGF messenger substance inside the eye.

Through this targeted blockade:

• Will the leaking blood vessels be sealed again?.
• Does the swelling in the macula (the edema) subside?.
• Can the retina recover and stabilize or even improve eyesight?.

The Eye injections for diabetes They are therefore a highly effective local therapy that interrupts the disease process directly at the site of the event.

The treatment process: Your eye injections for diabetes according to the 5-S method

We understand that the idea of an injection near the eye can be daunting. That's why we've optimized your entire treatment process according to the strict principles of our 5-S method. We guarantee a procedure designed for maximum safety and your personal comfort. The procedure itself takes place at our nearby, state-of-the-art surgical center in the Westend Medical Center.

1. Careful preparation: We will provide you with comprehensive information. Before the procedure, your eye will be completely anesthetized by administering anesthetic eye drops several times.
2. Sterile conditions: The entire procedure takes place under the strictest hygiene measures. The eye and the surrounding area are disinfected and sterilely covered.
3. Gentle & low-pain implementation: An eyelid clamp gently holds the eye open. The actual injection with a wafer-thin needle by Dr. Mareen Schmidt only takes a few seconds and is not painful.
4. Safe aftercare: Immediately after the Eye injection for diabetes the eye pressure is checked. Further follow-up care then takes place in the familiar atmosphere of our Frankfurt practice.

Eye injections for diabetes and laser therapy: A comparison

Depending on the stage of diabetic retinopathy, laser treatments may be necessary in addition to injection therapy.⁵ The following table compares the two methods.

Often, a combination of both methods is the best way to treat the various aspects of eye disease in diabetes.

Frequently asked questions about eye injections for diabetics

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions that we patients have in connection with Eye injections for diabetes place.

Are eye injections painful for diabetics?

No, the treatment is virtually painless. Thanks to our 5-S method, we place great emphasis on intensive and careful local anesthesia of the eye with eye drops. You will feel the injection of the Eye injections for diabetes Therefore, no pain, at most a brief, slight feeling of pressure. Our experienced team in Frankfurt ensures a calm and anxiety-free atmosphere throughout the entire procedure.

How often does the treatment need to be repeated?

The treatment of diabetic macular edema with Eye injections for diabetes Treatment is usually long-term. It often begins with a series of monthly injections. Once the swelling has subsided, the treatment intervals are individually adjusted to your condition in order to keep the retina "dry" in the long term with as few injections as possible, but as many as necessary.

Can I avoid treatment if my blood sugar is perfectly controlled?

Optimal blood sugar control is absolutely essential for slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy. However, if macular edema has already developed, good blood sugar control alone is often no longer sufficient to reduce the swelling. Eye injections for diabetes These are then the crucial additional therapy to protect your eyesight.

What are the risks and side effects?

The Eye injections for diabetes These procedures are very safe and well-established. Common, but harmless, side effects include minor bleeding on the surface of the eye or a temporary foreign body sensation. The most serious, but extremely rare, risk is an infection inside the eye, which we minimize through the strictest sterile conditions. We will fully inform you about all potential side effects.

Will my eyesight improve again after the injections?

The primary goal of treatment with Eye injections for diabetes The goal is to prevent further vision loss and stabilize the condition. In many cases, however, the reduction of macular swelling also leads to a significant and noticeable improvement in visual acuity and a decrease in bothersome distorted vision. However, there is no guarantee of this.

Will my health insurance cover the costs of the treatment?

Yes, the treatment of diabetic macular edema with approved VEGF inhibitors is a recognized and established medical service. The costs for the Eye injections for diabetes Therefore, they are fully covered by both statutory and private health insurance companies.

What happens if I don't have the treatment?

Without consistent therapy with Eye injections for diabetes Diabetic macular edema typically progresses. The persistent swelling leads to increasing and permanent damage to the photoreceptor cells in the macula. The result is a severe, irreversible loss of central vision and reading ability.

Do I need to have my eyes checked every year for the rest of my life?

Yes, as a diabetic, an annual examination of the back of the eye is absolutely essential, even if you are not yet experiencing any vision problems. This is the only way we can detect changes early. As soon as treatment with Eye injections for diabetes Once treatment has begun, the intervals for monitoring and treatment are naturally much shorter.

Why should the treatment be performed by a retinal specialist?

The diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases in diabetics requires the highest level of expertise and experience in accurate diagnosis, treatment selection, administration of injections, and the ability to optimally manage the course of therapy. Dr. Mareen Schmidt, as a former senior physician at the Clinic for Retinal Diseases in Frankfurt and a retinal specialist, possesses the necessary experience to offer you the safest and most effective treatment. Eye injections for diabetes to ensure.

Can I see normally and drive a car after the injection?

Immediately after the treatment, your vision in the treated eye will be blurred for a few hours due to disinfectant and the necessary pupil dilation. You must not drive yourself on this day. Please arrange transportation home after the treatment. Eye injections for diabetes Always have someone with you, or use a taxi or the subway.

Your eye health in the best hands if you have diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy and macular edema are serious diseases, but thanks to modern therapies such as... Eye injections for diabetes The prognosis is significantly better today than it was just a few years ago. The key to success lies in regular checkups and consistent, early treatment. If you have diabetes, don't hesitate. Schedule an appointment for a comprehensive preventative care or treatment consultation with Dr. Mareen Schmidt at our Frankfurt practice.