The results from RESTORE mirror a recent study conducted by the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR) showing that after one year, nearly 50 per cent of eyes treated with ranibizumab and laser therapy demonstrated an improvement in vision of 10 letters or more on the eye chart, compared to 28 per cent with laser therapy alone.

Diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME)

It is estimated that more than three million Canadians have diabetes, a disease associated with high levels of blood sugar which can damage many organs over time, including the eyes. Long-term diabetes can result in diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease characterized by changes in the blood vessels of the retina - the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in people under age 65, and almost all people with diabetes have some form of diabetic retinopathy.

While there are several forms of diabetic retinopathy, a number of people with the condition will develop DME, a serious eye condition which is caused by leakage of fluid in the central portion of the retina called the macula. The build-up of fluid causes swelling and thickening in the macula, distorting vision. Because this is the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision, patients with visual impairment due to DME can find it hard to recognize faces and carry out everyday activities such as reading and driving. DME with visual impairment affects 1-3% of people with diabetes worldwide.

Source: NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CANADA INC.