Comparison of choroidal thickness before and after injection of ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare choroidal thickness before and after injection of ranibizumab in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) using enhanced depth optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).BackgroundDME is one of the most common complications of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the most common cause of visual impairment. Intravitreal injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor is currently the most commonly used procedure for the treatment of DME.Patients and methodsA prospective clinical study was conducted on 30 eyes of 27 patients of DME who underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. A complete history was taken from all cases, and a full ophthalmologic examination was done. Fluorescein angiography and EDI-OCT were performed before injection and also at 1 month after injection. The difference between preoperative and postoperative subfoveal choroidal thickness was calculated.ResultThe mean preoperative choroidal thickness measured subfoveally using EDI-OCT was 233.1 ± 20.22, whereas the mean of postoperative choroidal thickness after 1 month was 214.4 ± 19.61. The range of difference between preoperative and 1 month postoperative choroidal thickness using EDI-OCT was from 23 to 28 μm and the mean was 18.67 ± 8.99; the difference was calculated by subtracting the preoperative choroidal thickness from 1-month postoperative choroidal thickness.ConclusionThere is a significant difference between the preoperative and 1-month postoperative choroidal thickness using EDI-OCT after injection of intravitreal ranibizumab in DME.