Medical Interventions for Diabetic Retinopathy

Comparison of two doses of primary intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for diffuse diabetic macular edema: results from the Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group (PACORES) at 12-month follow-up

“…Macular edema within 1 disc diameter of the fovea is present in 9% of the diabetic population [2]. Although visual loss secondary to proliferative changes is more common in patients with type 1 diabetes, visual loss in patients with type 2 diabetes is more commonly due to macular edema [3]. However, DME can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, and it is caused by excessive vascular permeability, resulting in the leakage of fluid and plasma constituents, such as lipoproteins, into the retina, leading to its thickening.…”

Preliminary results of an intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema

“…The pathological neo-angiogenesis at the basis of such alterations is provoked by the increase in cytokines (like interleukin-6 and -8), prostaglandins, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) 4,5. Laser photocoagulation, considered for a long time as the main treatment option for DME, may lead to paracentral deficits of the visual field and reduced color vision and sensitivity to contrast 1,2. For these reasons, intravitreal therapies with anti-VEGF have been considered as an efficient treatment strategy for patients affected by DME,5,7 with drugs such as pegaptanib6,9,10 ranibizumab,8 and bevacizumab11 being principally used.…”

Long-Term Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) in Patients With Chronic Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema

“…2 Despite therapeutic options such as laser treatment or vitreoretinal surgery, legal blindness in patients with type I diabetes is approximately in 90% caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy and/or development of macular edema, and in patients with Type 2 diabetes visual loss is commonly due to macular edema. 3 The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) demonstrated a significant reduction of visual loss by early focal photocoagulation. However, especially for chronic diffuse macular edema, laser treatment is not always beneficial.…”