Œdème maculaire

Macular oedema is a common cause of visual loss in a wide variety of ocular diseases. It is a nonspecific pathologic response to the breakdown of blood retinal barrier. The pathogenesis of this disruption is poorly understood but soluble mediators like vascular endothelial growth factor, inflammation, vitreoretinal traction, or retinal ischemia may play a role. Diagnosis and monitoring of macular oedema have benefit from the use of optical coherence tomography that allows an accurate measure of retinal thickness. Depending on the aetiology, macular oedema treatment is based on photocoagulation, topical non-steroids anti-inflammatory drugs, local or intravitreal corticotherapy, acetazolamide, or posterior vitrectomy. New treatments such as anti-VEGF drugs are under evaluation. In spite of these therapeutic progresses, macular oedema can lead to severe and definitive central visual loss.