Characteristics of diabetic macular edema on optical coherence tomography may change over time or after treatment.

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics in diabetic macular edema (DME) over time and after treatment.Patients and methodsOCT morphological features in DME eyes treated with ranibizumab with at least 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThirty-five eyes were included. From baseline to Month 12, mean visual gain was 7.2±13.6 letters and mean central retinal thickness reduction was 61.9±121.8 μm. Fovea-involving ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption was significantly associated with final vision of <70 letters. Subretinal fluid at baseline was present only in eyes naïve to previous intravitreal pharmacotherapy and was related to better visual gain and fewer injections. Treatment-naïve eyes had shorter DME duration and less EZ damage.ConclusionDME characteristics on OCT may change over time or after treatment. Subretinal fluid may be associated with earlier change and less EZ damage in DME.