The present invention provides a method of treating edematous retinal disorders. The method comprises administration of a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a hydrolysis-resistant P2Y receptor agonist to stimulate the removal of pathological extraneous fluid from the subretinal and retinal spaces and thereby reduce the accumulation of said fluid associated with retinal detachment and retinal edema. The P2Y receptor agonist can be administered with therapeutic and adjuvant agents commonly used to treat edematous retinal disorders. The pharmaceutical formulation useful in this invention comprises a P2Y receptor agonist with enhanced resistance to extracellular hydrolysis, such as dinucleoside polyphosphate compounds, or hydrolysis-resistant mononucleoside triphosphates.