Phacoemulcification with intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with cataract and diabetic clinically significant macular edema

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate efficacy of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at the time of cataract surgery in patients with diabetic clinically significant macular edema. Methods Eighteen diabetic patients, with clinically significant macular edema and cataract who have undergone phacoemulsification with intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg bevacizumab at the time surgery, were retrospectively evaluated. All patients were evaluated by spectral OCT before, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery. The main parameters were the best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT). Paired samples t‐test was used for statistical analysis. Results The mean best‐corrected visual acuity was 0.16 ± 0.07 at baseline, 0.63 ± 0.44 at 1 month and 0.68 ± 0.12 at 3 months after the surgery. The BCVA levels recorded at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery were significantly higher than the initial BCVA (P = 0.001). The mean CMT was 384.4 ± 102.4 μm at baseline, 288 ± 44.1 μm at 1 month and 254.9 ± 11.9 μm at 3 months after the surgery. The CMT values recorded at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery were significantly lower than the initial CMT (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Conclusion Phacoemulsification with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at the time of cataract surgery provides a decrease in CMT with a gain in BCVA in diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema and cataract.