Avandia, Actos May Raise Risk of Macular Edema

Pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) appear to substantially boost risk of macular edema in type 2 diabetes, an observational study found. Incidence of diabetic macular edema was 1.3% at 1 year on a thiazolidinedione (TZD) compared with just 0.2% among type 2 diabetes patients not on one of those agents. The risk remained 2.3 times higher out to 10 years of follow-up after adjustment for use of other diabetes and cardiovascular drugs, glucose control, and other factors. Arch Intern Med 2012