FDA Approves New Treatment for Diabetic Retinopahy

The FDA announced on Wednesday that it has approved a new treatment for diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetic macular edema. The treatment, Eylea (afibercept), is an injection.

According to the FDA, diabetic retinopathy, or DR, is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in adults in the U.S. In 2008, 33 percent of adults with diabetes had some form of DR.

Eylea is administered by a physician as an injection into the eye once a month for five months and then once every two months. It is designed to be used in conjunction with other appropriate interventions to control blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.

The FDA notes that the most common side effects associated with Eylea including bleeding of the conjunctiva, eye pain, cataracts, floaters, increased pressure inside the eye and separation of the interior jelly of the eye form the retina. Serious potential complications include infection within the eye and retinal detachment.

To read the FDA's press release, click here.