• About
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • Latest News
  • All Sections
    • Ophthalmic insights
      • Policy & regulation
      • Company updates & acquisitions
      • Research
      • Clinical trials
      • Workforce
      • Product approvals
      • Conferences
      • Opinion
      • Indigenous eye health
      • Retail
    • Eye disease
      • Dry eye
      • Myopia
      • Cataract
      • Glaucoma
      • Macular disease – AMD
      • Diabetic eye disease
      • Inherited retinal disease
      • Corneal disease
      • Presbyopia
      • Eye infections
    • Ophthalmic Careers
      • New appointments
      • Industry profiles
      • Graduates
    • Ophthalmic organisations
      • Regulators
      • Optometry networks
      • Private ophthalmology clinics
      • Associations
      • Patient support bodies
      • Eye research institutions
      • Optometry schools
      • Optical Dispensing trainers
      • Medical schools
      • RANZCO
  • Features
    • Report
    • Soapbox
  • Ophthalmic education
    • CPD – Optometry
    • Optical Dispensing
    • Orthoptics Australia
    • Practice management
  • Products
    • Ophthalmic Treatments
      • Ophthalmic lenses
      • Lens treatments
      • Myopia interventions
      • Light-based therapy
      • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
      • Gene therapy
      • Laser treatments
      • Supplements
      • Eyewear & frames
      • Behavioural optometry/vision training
      • Contact lenses
      • Anti-VEGF
      • Intraocular lenses (IOLs)
      • Pharmaceuticals & consumables
    • Ophthalmic equipment & diagnostics
      • Biometry – axial length
      • Perimetry & visual fields
      • OCT
      • Phoropter
      • Autorefractor
      • Tonometry
      • Topography
      • Multimodal imaging
      • Retinal imaging
      • Anterior segment imaging
      • Software & data management
      • Microscopes
      • Slit lamps
      • Lens edging
      • Stands, chairs and tables
      • Ultrasound
      • Dry eye diagnostics
      • Low vision aids
  • Research
  • Classifieds
No Results
View All Results
  • Latest News
  • All Sections
    • Ophthalmic insights
      • Policy & regulation
      • Company updates & acquisitions
      • Research
      • Clinical trials
      • Workforce
      • Product approvals
      • Conferences
      • Opinion
      • Indigenous eye health
      • Retail
    • Eye disease
      • Dry eye
      • Myopia
      • Cataract
      • Glaucoma
      • Macular disease – AMD
      • Diabetic eye disease
      • Inherited retinal disease
      • Corneal disease
      • Presbyopia
      • Eye infections
    • Ophthalmic Careers
      • New appointments
      • Industry profiles
      • Graduates
    • Ophthalmic organisations
      • Regulators
      • Optometry networks
      • Private ophthalmology clinics
      • Associations
      • Patient support bodies
      • Eye research institutions
      • Optometry schools
      • Optical Dispensing trainers
      • Medical schools
      • RANZCO
  • Features
    • Report
    • Soapbox
  • Ophthalmic education
    • CPD – Optometry
    • Optical Dispensing
    • Orthoptics Australia
    • Practice management
  • Products
    • Ophthalmic Treatments
      • Ophthalmic lenses
      • Lens treatments
      • Myopia interventions
      • Light-based therapy
      • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
      • Gene therapy
      • Laser treatments
      • Supplements
      • Eyewear & frames
      • Behavioural optometry/vision training
      • Contact lenses
      • Anti-VEGF
      • Intraocular lenses (IOLs)
      • Pharmaceuticals & consumables
    • Ophthalmic equipment & diagnostics
      • Biometry – axial length
      • Perimetry & visual fields
      • OCT
      • Phoropter
      • Autorefractor
      • Tonometry
      • Topography
      • Multimodal imaging
      • Retinal imaging
      • Anterior segment imaging
      • Software & data management
      • Microscopes
      • Slit lamps
      • Lens edging
      • Stands, chairs and tables
      • Ultrasound
      • Dry eye diagnostics
      • Low vision aids
  • Research
  • Classifieds
No Results
View All Results
Home Eye disease Diabetic eye disease

Diabetic macular oedema ‘reversed’ in 15 Adelaide patients with diet

by Myles Hume
September 4, 2024
in Diabetic eye disease, Diabetic macular oedema, Eye disease, Local, News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
They study retrospectively analysed OCT scans of 15 DMO patients at a private metropolitan ophthalmology practice. Image: Sergey Ryzhov/Shutterstock.com.

They study retrospectively analysed OCT scans of 15 DMO patients at a private metropolitan ophthalmology practice. Image: Sergey Ryzhov/Shutterstock.com.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ophthalmologist Dr James Muecke and South Australian colleagues have reported 15 cases of people reversing their diabetic macular oedema (DMO) using only their diet.

The work – involving the University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide Eye and Retina Centre and Sight For All – featured on an academic poster at the World Ophthalmology Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in August 2024.

Dr James Muecke. Image: Sight For All.

Dr Muecke, the 2020 Australian of the Year, said while 15 patients had reversed their sight-threatening eye condition, they had also reversed their underlying metabolic dysfunction.

“I now have 15 patients who have reversed their type 2 diabetes related macular oedema utilising only therapeutic carbohydrate reduction. And there’s plenty more to come,” he said.

“As an ophthalmologist, I have a window into the human body and can see the damage being wrought by type 2 diabetes on our blood vessels. Loss of sight is the most feared complication of diabetes, but there are many other life-changing and life-threatening consequences. Most of these can be prevented and some can even be reversed with lifestyle management, primarily a change in diet.”

In the study, Dr Muecke et al wanted to explore the impact of low carbohydrate, healthy fat (LCHF) diets, such as the ketogenic diet, on type 2 diabetes and DMO.

They retrospectively analysed OCT scans of 15 DMO patients at a private metropolitan ophthalmology practice, none whom were undergoing anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (IVIs).

After being prescribed various LCHF diets to manage their disease, all patients had decreased intraretinal fluid (IRF) levels. Two eyes had stable disease with no improvement/worsening of IRL levels. Also, two patients had evidence of complete drying of the macula in at least one eye.

Interestingly, there was evidence of significant sensitivity to IRF levels regarding dietary compliance. In effect, IRF levels rebounded over periods of poor patient-reported dietary compliance.

Dr Muecke said the results showed “there needs to be more focus on this extraordinary opportunity in the training of doctors, dietitians and nutritionists”.

The researchers concluded that more research was required and that quantitative analysis of retina biomarkers and novel IRF volumetric studies will help to understand the role of LCHF diets on the retinal microenvironment.

“With the high burden of diabetic macular disease, adjunct therapies to help reduce IVI injection and appointment frequency are vital to improving ophthalmic system efficiency,” the study noted.

More reading

Eye surgeon James Muecke named Australian of the Year

Ophthalmic voice prominent in 2024 national diabetes inquiry

Vision Eye Institute and Sight For All collaborate under a shared vision

Related Posts

A new WA clinic will give Aboriginal communities and others greater access to eyecare. Image: Sawoon/stock.adobe.com

New clinic will help address inequities in Aboriginal eyecare

by Staff Writer
December 5, 2024

A new eye clinic aims to make a significant impact in transforming eyecare for Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. A...

Or lack of it, depending on where you live, is the concern of the CPMC and others. Image: BJP7images/stock.adobe.com.

Health ministers warned that fast-track changes could bring ‘postcode’ health care

by Staff Writer
December 5, 2024

Australia’s state health ministers have been warned that the proposed fast-track registration of Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) risks exacerbating...

Alcon has confirmed its new Unity systems are now registered in Australia, and will be commercially available in 2025. Image: Konektus Photo/Shutterstock.com.

All-new Alcon Unity vitreoretinal and cataract systems approved in Australia

by Myles Hume
December 4, 2024

Alcon has revealed its “highly anticipated” Unity Vitreoretinal Cataract System and Unity Cataract System have been included on the Australian...

Join our newsletter

Insight has been the leading industry publication in Australia for more than 40 years. This longevity is largely due to our ability to consistently deliver accurate and independent news relevant to all ophthalmic professionals and their supporting industry.

Subscribe to our newsletter

About Insight

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • Business
  • Feature
  • Research
  • Technology
  • Therapies
  • Classifieds

© 2024 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • Latest News
  • All Sections
    • Ophthalmic insights
      • Policy & regulation
      • Company updates & acquisitions
      • Research
      • Clinical trials
      • Workforce
      • Product approvals
      • Conferences
      • Opinion
      • Indigenous eye health
      • Retail
    • Eye disease
      • Dry eye
      • Myopia
      • Cataract
      • Glaucoma
      • Macular disease – AMD
      • Diabetic eye disease
      • Inherited retinal disease
      • Corneal disease
      • Presbyopia
      • Eye infections
    • Ophthalmic Careers
      • New appointments
      • Industry profiles
      • Graduates
    • Ophthalmic organisations
      • Regulators
      • Optometry networks
      • Private ophthalmology clinics
      • Associations
      • Patient support bodies
      • Eye research institutions
      • Optometry schools
      • Optical Dispensing trainers
      • Medical schools
      • RANZCO
  • Features
    • Report
    • Soapbox
  • Ophthalmic education
    • CPD – Optometry
    • Optical Dispensing
    • Orthoptics Australia
    • Practice management
  • Products
    • Ophthalmic Treatments
      • Ophthalmic lenses
      • Lens treatments
      • Myopia interventions
      • Light-based therapy
      • Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
      • Gene therapy
      • Laser treatments
      • Supplements
      • Eyewear & frames
      • Behavioural optometry/vision training
      • Contact lenses
      • Anti-VEGF
      • Intraocular lenses (IOLs)
      • Pharmaceuticals & consumables
    • Ophthalmic equipment & diagnostics
      • Biometry – axial length
      • Perimetry & visual fields
      • OCT
      • Phoropter
      • Autorefractor
      • Tonometry
      • Topography
      • Multimodal imaging
      • Retinal imaging
      • Anterior segment imaging
      • Software & data management
      • Microscopes
      • Slit lamps
      • Lens edging
      • Stands, chairs and tables
      • Ultrasound
      • Dry eye diagnostics
      • Low vision aids
  • Research
  • Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Insight
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Insight

© 2024 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited