Cystoid Macular Edema

Cystoid macular edema (CME), or swelling of the macula, arises as a response to disease, injury, or in rare instances eye surgery. Clear fluid accumulates within layers of the macula causing visual blur and/or visual distortion.

Diagnosis: Detecting CME can be difficult with a standard retinal examination since the swelling can be very subtle. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) are excellent tests to diagnose CME.

Treatment: The treatment of CME depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the swelling. Topical drops are often used as first line treatment. In more severe cases, an anti-inflammatory steroid injection can be given into or around the eye to reduce the macular swelling. Vitrectomy or laser surgery may be recommended if CME is caused by a condition which is not normally treatable by medicines alone.