The FDA has approved a new implantable treatment for adults with diabetic macular edema (DME) after studies showed that it could help maintain vision with as few as two treatments per year.

Sold as Susvimo, it's the first device that slowly releases ranibizumab, a medicine that treats eye diseases, so patients don’t need frequent injections.

DME affects about 750,000 people in the United States and 29 million globally. High blood sugar can damage tiny blood vessels in the eyes, causing fluid leakage and swelling in the macula — the part of the eye responsible for clear vision. This swelling can lead to serious vision problems or blindness, and treatments often involve monthly injections, highlighting the need for more convenient options.

DME is the second approved use for Susvimo, following its 2021 approval for wet (neovascular) age-related macular degeneration. The ranibizumab injection (Lucentis) was first approved in 2006. Head over to WebMD to read the full story.