How Do Diabetic Retinopathy & Diabetic Macular Edema Affect My Vision?

It’s important to know that DR and DME may worsen, even if you are not experiencing any symptoms.

You may notice the following symptoms of diabetic macular edema and diabetic retinopathy:

Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (“floaters”)
Blurry vision
Dark or empty areas in your vision
Seeing colors as dull or muted

Watch the video to see how DR can change vision over time

This video is meant to show you a range of symptoms you may experience. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity level of the disease and will be unique for each person. If you experience any problems with vision, contact your Retina Specialist right away.

Watch the video to see how DME can change vision over time

This video is meant to show you a range of symptoms you may experience. Symptoms can vary depending on the severity level of the disease and will be unique for each person. If you experience any problems with vision, contact your Retina Specialist right away.

The LUCENTIS Brochure for DR and DME

Download the LUCENTIS Brochure to Learn More About DR and DME

A Retina Specialist can help

Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema are chronic diseases. This means that they don’t go away, but they can be treated.

Your vision will likely continue to get worse without treatment
By starting treatment and sticking with your doctor’s plan, you take an important step in helping to manage your DR or DME
If you think you are experiencing problems with vision from DR or DME, make an appointment with a Retina Specialist right away

Appointment Calendar

Make a Retina Specialist Appointment

If you do not have a Retina Specialist, ask your ophthalmologist or primary care physician about a referral or use the Find a Retina Specialist tool.

Find a Retina Specialist

Patient Support

LUCENTIS Patient Support Program

Enroll in the LUCENTIS Patient Support Program for resources like live one-on-one phone support, emails, or brochures.

Financial Assistance Options

Financial Assistance Options

There may be options to help you afford LUCENTIS, no matter what type of health insurance you have. Learn about Genentech Access Solutions.

Find Financial Assistance

NEXT: About LUCENTIS for DR and DME

Who is LUCENTIS for? LUCENTIS^® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

What important safety information should I know about LUCENTIS? You should not use LUCENTIS if you have an infection in or around the eye or are allergic to LUCENTIS or any of its ingredients. LUCENTIS is a prescription medication given by injection into the eye, and it has side effects. LUCENTIS is not for everyone. Some LUCENTIS patients have had detached retinas and serious eye infections. If your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or painful, or if you have a change in vision, call or visit your eye doctor right away.

Some patients have had increased eye pressure before and within 1 hour of an injection. Your eye doctor should check your eye pressure and eye health before and after your LUCENTIS injection.

Uncommonly, LUCENTIS patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Fatal events were seen more often in patients with DME and DR with LUCENTIS compared with patients who did not receive LUCENTIS. Although there were only few fatal events which included causes of death typical of patients with advanced diabetic complications, these events may be caused by LUCENTIS.

Some LUCENTIS patients have serious side effects related to the injection. These include serious infections inside the eye, detached retinas, and cataracts. The most common eye-related side effects are increased redness in the white of the eye, eye pain, small specks in vision, and increased eye pressure. The most common non–eye-related side effects are nose and throat infections, anemia, nausea and cough.

LUCENTIS is for prescription use only.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

For additional Safety Information, please talk to your doctor and see the LUCENTIS full Prescribing Information.