The newest widely used treatments for diabetic macular edema are a group of drugs known as anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) treatments. These drugs block the action of the hormone VEGF, which can cause abnormal blood vessel growth in your eyes when cells produce too much of it, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.Anti-VEGF treatments are considered the first-line medication for diabetic macular edema that involves the center of the macula and impairs vision, according to the latest treatment guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).Anti-VEGF treatments are given by intravitreal injection — meaning they’re injected directly into the back of your eye. This procedure is typically performed by a retina specialist in an office setting. You’ll sit or lie in a reclined chair, and the doctor will perform a series of steps to keep you comfortable and make sure the injection is given in a safe and effective way.First, your doctor will give you eye drops — and possibly a small injection — to numb your eye so that you don’t feel the injection treatment. Next, your doctor will clean your eye using an iodine solution. Finally, your doctor will give the main injection through the white part of your eye, asking you to look in a specific direction while the injection is given.Your doctor may use a device known as an eyelid speculum to hold your eye open for the intravitreal injection. You may feel some pressure during the injection, but you should feel little to no pain. The entire procedure lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes, notes the American Society of Retina Specialists.There are four main anti-VEGF treatments used to treat diabetic macular edema, according to the Cleveland Clinic:Bevacizumab (Avastin)Ranibizumab (Lucentis)Aflibercept (Eylea)Faricimab (Vabysmo)All anti-VEGF treatments are considered to be safe and effective, the American Academy of Ophthalmology notes. Your doctor will decide which one to use, as well as how many treatments you need based on your response to the therapy.An article published in the Cochrane Library in June 2023 found that across 23 different studies, there were no significant differences in visual outcomes for people who received aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema. Faricimab is a newer drug that was not included in the analysis.