Warning to ophthalmologists

"When treating patients with DME, ophthalmologists should consider the role of the glitazone class of drugs," warn the authors of a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.

Whilst the diabetes drug class, glitazones has been associated with an increased risk of diabetic macular oedema (DME) in the past, this piece of research confirms that the drugs, which include pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) are 'modestly associated' with increased DME.