Abstract
Purpose :
The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal Aflibercept injection (IAI) for vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema at one year.
Methods :
This is a prospective, multicenter observational study including vitrectomized eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema treated with IAI. The inclusion criteria were diabetic patients whose HbA1c is < 9%, with visual acuity between 20/400 to 20/40, who have underwent vitrectomy since at least 3 months.
Results :
46 patients from 8 centers were included from November 2016 to November 2018. Indications for vitrectomy were epiretinal membrane (58.7%), intravitreal hemorrhage (26.1%), and vitreomacular traction (6.5%), retinal detachment (4.5%), and other cause (2.2%). Mean duration of macular edema was 3 years. Mean interval between vitrectomy and first visit was 2 years. 34 eyes were treated previously with thermal laser (28.9%), intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (17%), of ranibizumab (46.8%), of dexamethasone implant (25.5%), or bevacizumab (4.3%). Data was available for 35 eyes at 1 year. Visual gain was significant, +7.6 letters (p <0.001) and central macular thickness decreased significantly (-108μm, p < 0.001) at 1 year. Mean number of injection was 9.5 and mean interval injection was 5.7 weeks.
Conclusions :
These results suggest that IAI may be beneficial in functional and anatomical outcome in vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema. Vitrectomized eyes had characteristic of refractory persistent diabetic macular edema, requiring frequent injections.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.