Authors' recommendations: Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness among working age adults in England and Wales. It is caused by changes to the smallest blood vessels of the retina (the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye). In diabetic macular oedema, blood vessels leak fluid into the retina. Vision loss occurs when the fluid reaches the macula (the centre of the retina that provides sharp vision) and builds up, causing swelling. Over time, diabetic macular oedema can cause central vision to become blurred. Eventually these changes become permanent. Danazol is a drug taken as a tablet that is already used to treat other conditions. At the moment there are no drugs that can be taken as a tablet to treat diabetic macular oedema; the only options are injections or laser therapy. Danazol is being studied to see whether it improves the symptoms of diabetic macular oedema and whether it is safe to use for people with this disease. If danazol is licensed for use in the UK, it could provide a new treatment for people with diabetic macular oedema.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/ultra-low-dose-danazol-optina-vasaloc-for-diabetic-macular-oedema/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)