Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of combined treatment of intravitreal bevacizumab injection followed by grid laser photocoagulation in patients with diabetic macular edema
Methods: Patients with diabetic macular edema received single dose intravitreal bevacizumab injection and followed by grid laser photocoagulation treatment four weeks later in the retrospectively conducted study. All eyes had underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including optical coherence tomography at baseline and at first and third month after laser treatment. The changes between outcome and baseline measurements in central macular thickness, macular cube volume and best-corrected visual acuity were observed. The changes in intraocular pressure and any reported complication were also evaluated.
Results: After the combined therapy the reduction in the mean of central macular thickness was 96.91 μm (24.94%) with a corresponding improvement in best-corrected visual acuity. The reduction in the mean of central macular thickness and the improvement in the mean of best-corrected visual acuity were statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05). There was no significant changes in the mean of IOP (p = 0.95). No complication related to the intravitreal injection or laser photocoagulation was reported in the treated eyes.
Conclusion: Combined therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab injection and sequential grid laser photocoagulation appeared to be effective in reducing central macular thickness and cube volume and improving visual acuity. A combination of intravitreal bevacizumab injection and sequential grid laser photocoagulation could be used as an initial treatment of diabetic macular edema.