2M.D. Professor, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Adana/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate visual acuity and macular thickness alterations after intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) monotherapy and İVR injection combined with laser therapy in treatment of diabetic macular edema(DME).
Materials and Methods: Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed of 80 patients (98 eyes) who underwent intravitreal ranibizumab therapy for DME . The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the treat¬ment modality: Group I included 53 eyes treated with ranibizumab monotherapy and Group II included 45 eyes treated IVR with combi¬nation of focal/grid laser therapy. Patients were compared in terms of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at 1st and 6th months.
Results: Mean follow-up period was 14.8±5.4 (6-22) months. The median (minimum-maximum) BCVA before the treatment in Group I and Group II was 0.7 (0.1-1.3) log¬MAR and 1 (0.4-1.3) logMAR respectively. The visual acuity was 0.4 (0.1-1.3) logMAR and 0.7 (0.2-1.3) logMAR respectively at 6th month. The increase in BCVA was statistically significant in group I (p=0.0001). The median (minimummaximum) CMT before the treatment in Group I and Group II was 487 (277-847) μm and 493 (289-843) μm respectively. The CMT was 284 (178-496) μm and 352 (220-921) μm respectively at 6th month. The decrease in CMT was statistically significant in group I (p=0.001).
Conclusion: According to our study intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy is more effective than combination of IVR with focal/grid laser therapy in the treatment of DME.
Keywords : Diabetic macular edema, intravitreal ranibizumab injection, laser photocoagulation