HealthWatch-Saving diabetics' Sight
By: Chelly Boutott
Updated: October 17, 2012
Diabetes affects 26 million people in the U.S. and is the leading cause of new blindness in adults.
Now for the first time in a long time, the FDA has approved a drug to help save diabetics' vision.
Lucentis, a drug used for years to treat macular degeneration was just FDA approved for diabetic macular edema, or DME.
"It's the first new treatment for patients with diabetes and diabetic macular edema in 25 years."
The drug is injected directly into a patient's eyes.
Doctors say the number of injections needed varies patient to patient, but many have their vision restored to 20-20.
