Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) - Epidemiology Forecast - 2036

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) Insights and Trends

• According to DelveInsight's analysis, the total prevalent cases of DME in 7MM were found to be approximately 2 million in 2025 and are estimated to rise with a significant CAGR throughout the study period (2026-2036).
• The prevalence of DME is rising globally, driven by increasing Diabetes Mellitus burden, aging populations, and demographic variations such as higher occurrence in older adults and males.
• The United States accounted for the maximum number of diagnosed prevalent cases of DME, which was estimated to be around 510,000 in 2025, and is anticipated to increase by a significant CAGR.
• In 2025, approximately 60% of DME cases in the 7MM were males, while 40% were females. In the US, gender-specific cases were estimated at ~300,000 for males and ~210,000 for females, with both expected to increase during the forecast period (2026-2036).
• As per DelveInsight's analysis, the diagnosed prevalent cases of DME based on age were categorized into three groups: 18-44 years, 45-64 years, and >=75 years. Among the three age groups, the highest number of cases (~224,000) was accounted for by the age group 45-64 years in 2025 in the US.

Diabetic Macular Edema Epidemiology (DME) Forecast in the United States

• 2025 Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Macular Edema: ~1,150,000
• Diabetic Macular Edema Growth Rate (2026-2036): 1.9% CAGR

DelveInsight's 'Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) - Epidemiology Forecast - 2036' report delivers an in-depth understanding of the diabetic macular edema, historical and forecasted epidemiology in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France), and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Diabetic Macular Edema Understanding and Diagnosis Algorithm

Diabetic Macular Edema Overview (DME)

DME is a vision-threatening complication of Diabetes Mellitus and a manifestation of Diabetic Retinopathy. It is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the macula due to leakage from damaged retinal blood vessels, leading to retinal thickening and impairment of central vision. Chronic hyperglycemia disrupts the blood-retinal barrier, increasing vascular permeability and promoting fluid buildup in the macula. DME is a leading cause of vision loss among working-age adults globally. The disease burden continues to rise alongside increasing diabetes prevalence, driven by aging populations, sedentary lifestyles, and obesity, underscoring the need for early detection and effective management strategies.

Diabetic Macular Edema Diagnosis (DME)

may present with blurred or distorted central vision, although early stages can be asymptomatic, making routine screening essential in individuals with Diabetes Mellitus. Fundus examination is typically the initial step to detect retinal abnormalities, while optical coherence tomography (OCT) serves as the gold standard for confirming retinal thickening and fluid accumulation. Fluorescein angiography may be used to evaluate vascular leakage and retinal perfusion.

DME is further classified into center-involved (CI-DME) when the fovea is affected, and non-center-involved (NCI-DME) when the central macula is spared. Advances in imaging and biomarkers are enhancing diagnostic accuracy and enabling better monitoring of disease progression and treatment response.

Diabetic Macular Edema Epidemiology (DME)

Key Findings from Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast

• According to DelveInsight's estimates, the total diagnosed prevalence cases of DME in the 7MM were approximately 900,000 in 2025.
• It has been observed that the prevalence of DME is higher (~300,000) in males as compared to females (~210,000) in the United States.
• Among EU4 and the UK, Germany accounted for the highest number of DME cases, followed by France, whereas Spain had the lowest number of cases in 2025.
• In 2025, Central-involved DME was the most prevalent subgroup in Japan, followed by Non-center-involved DME.
• In the United States, among all the age groups, 45-64 years accounted for the highest number of DME cases, i.e., around ~2,24,000, in 2025, followed by the age group>= 75 years (~2,20,000).
• In 2025, Japan accounted for approximately 10% of the total diagnosed prevalent cases of Diabetic Macular Edema across the 7MM.

Scope of the Report:

• The report covers a segment of an executive summary, a descriptive overview of diabetic macular edema, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and pathogenesis.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression.

Report Insights

Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) Patient Population Forecast

Report Key Strengths

• Epidemiology-based (epi-based) Bottom-up Forecasting
• 11-year Forecast
• Patient Burden Trends (by geography)

FAQs:

• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of diabetic macular edema? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population with diabetic macular edema?
• What is the historical and forecasted diabetic macular edema patient pool in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the UK, and Japan?

Reasons to Buy:

• Insights on patient burden/disease prevalence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand key opinion leaders' perspectives on the diagnostic challenges to overcome barriers in the future.
• Detailed insights into various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.