Evaluation of The Effect of Combined Intra-Vitreal Ranibizumab Injection and Sub-Tenon Tri-Amcinolone Acetonide Injection in The Management of Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Background: to monitor and compare the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injection alone or with sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection on patients with diabetic macular edema. Aim of the Work: To assess the effect of combined intravitreal ranibizumab injection, and sub-tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection in the management of diabetic macular edema. Patients and Methods: Patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy associated with DME (Central macular thickness over 300 um) which are aimlessly divided into two groups. In group 1, three monthly doses (0.5 mg) of intravitreal ranibizumab are received. In group 2, the anti-VEGF injection was performed 10 days after the sub-tenon steroid injection [triamcinolone acetonide]. All patients’ visual acuity, IOP and CMT were followed up for 3 months. Results: The combined treatment showed improved best corrected visual acuity from baseline 0.24 ± 0.32 log MAR to 0.56 ± 0.18 log MAR (p = 0.023) which was statistically significant. In addition, there was decreased CMT from baseline 420.1 ± 112.84 to 275.73 ± 90.81 which was highly statistically significant (p > 0.001). When comparing the combination treatment with the anti-VEGF treatment alone, recovery of BCVA and CMT was statistically significant (p = 0.041 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Steroid addition to the routine anti-VEGF therapy is an effective method of treatment of diabetic macular edema