Once you have diabetic macula odema, do you then have to have treatment for the rest of your life?

Diabetic macula edema should be treated if it affects the vision or it is at a location which will likely affects the vision. Yes, you need to be followed closely and treated as needed for preventing blindness for the rest of your life.

Involvement of the eye (retinopathy) is but one of several potential complications of diabetes, and lifelong care with conscientious vigilance to maintain good health, is the hallmark of successful outcomes. Many of my patients had chronic macular edema and never had progressive visual loss.