DR. VENKATA SAI PRASHANTI CHITTURI

DR. RAMESH VENKATESH, DR.NARESH KUMAR YADAV, DR. RUBBLE MANGLA

Abstract

This is a retrospective, comparative study to observe the effects of delayed treatment on VA and CMT in treatment naïve CI-DME, with VA ≤ 20/40 with at least a year of follow-up. Patients were categorized into A) those receiving intravitreal injections immediately B) Those receiving treatment after 6 months. Changes in VA and CMT were compared at 0, 6 and 12 months. Number of intravitreal injections needed in 12 months in both groups was recorded. 442 eyes with treatment naïve CI-DME were included. 332 eyes in Grp A and 110 eyes in Grp B. VA and CMT at presentation in the 2 groups were comparable (p>0.05). After 48 weeks, the VA improved by 6.5 and 5.8 ETDRS letters respectively. Change in the CMT was – 123µ and -43µ in groups A and B respectively. Lesser number of injections were needed in Group A (2.3 vs 4.2) over a 48-week period. In conclusion, early treatment of CI-DME with intravitreal injections earns better anatomical and functional dividends over a 12-month period.