Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema: Early Results

Purpose: To evaluate the early results of effectiveness and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab injection for diffuse diabetic macular edema. Material and Method: In this randomized prospective study, 20 eyes of 14 patients who had intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg/0.05 ml bevacizumab for diffuse diabetic macular edema were evaluated. Eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema with foveal thickness greater than 350 mu m as revealed by optical coherence tomography were included in the study. Changes in visual acuity and foveal thickness as well as complications were evaluated. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare mean values. Results: The mean follow-up period was 3 +/- 0.6 months. The mean best-corrected visual acuities at baseline, 1 week and 1 month after injection were 0.28 +/- 0.04, 0.37 +/- 0.05, and 0.44 +/- 0.05, respectively. Visual acuities increased significantly from baseline at one week and one month after injection (p<0.0001). At 1 week, 14 (70%) and at 1 month, 15 (75%) eyes had improvement in visual acuity. The mean central foveal thickness at baseline, 1 week and 1 month after injection was 422.15 +/- 18.87 mu m, 344.65 +/- 21.7 mu m, and 316.3 +/- 31.1 mu m, respectively. Central foveal thickness decreased significantly from baseline at one week and one month after injection (p<0.0001). The most common complication was subconjunctival haemorrhage in 8 (40%) eyes. Discussion: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for diffuse diabetic edema was found to be safe and effective in early period. Evaluation with randomized controlled clinical trial with longer follow-up is needed.