Factors Affecting the Visual Acuity and Anatomic Recovery in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the parameters which affect the anatomic and functional results of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients who are treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. Methods: Patients who have been diagnosed with DME are included in this research. Patients who have been treated with Pro Re Nata (PRN) regime before three months of ranibizumab injection are included in this research. Stage of diabetic retinopathy, type of edema in OCT, epiretinal membrane (ERM) ellipsoid zone damage, and presence of exudate in subretinal fluid and fovea of the patients are determined. The effect of these parameters on final central fovea thickness and best-corrected visual acuity is investigated. Results: 110 eyes of 65 patients are included in this research. In the multivariate regression analysis, it is found that the poor visual acuity is highly correlated with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, while shows an interrelation with the presence of subretinal fluid in OCT, exudate in fovea, and ellipsoid zone damage (p=0.004, p=0.009, p