Clinically Significant Macula Oedema (CSMO)

What’s going on?

You have diabetic changes in the macular, the most important portion of the retina for central vision, and these changes could cause visual loss soon. You need some form of treatment usually in the form of laser. Once vision has been lost, laser treatment is seldom able to restore it – the emphasis is on prevention.

What will my ophthalmologist see?

There are hard and fast rules based upon big research studies which dictate when we should intervene with laser to preserve your vision. When we see these changes we will plan treatment.

What will my ophthalmologist do for me?

We can plan to apply argon laser treatment to the area of leaky retina. This procedure is called a macular grid because a regular grid of laser is applied to the macula. Only mild burns are required to stop the leak, but they do reduce vision in the area where they are applied. This means that there is a careful balance we need to strike between damage and benefit.

What do I need to do?

Optimisation of diabetic and blood pressure control is required.

What do I need to know?

If the condition is left unchecked your vision will inevitably get worse.  Sadly sometimes there is nothing that can be done to preserve vision if the disorder is severe. This is particularly true if the blood vessels to the macula have completely failed due to the diabetes.