Abstract
PurposeTo report the efficacy of topical interferon alpha 2b in the treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema.MethodsIn this retrospective interventional case series, five eyes of three individuals with diabetic macular edema resistant to multiple intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs and macular photocoagulation were included.ResultsAll studied eyes had undergone multiple intravitreal injections including bevacizumab, combination of bevacizumab and triamcinolone and aflibercept, and macular laser photocoagulation before being included in this study. Two intravitreal ranibizumab injections had also been performed in both eyes of one patient. Two eyes had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, one for diabetic macular edema and the other for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. After a discussion regarding the experimental topical interferon alpha 2b treatment, all patients agreed to start interferon alpha 2b drops four times a day. One month after the treatment, optical coherence tomography demonstrated a significant improvement in macular structure and thickness which was stable or improved at the three-month follow-up visit. Visual acuity in all eyes was stable or improved throughout the three-month follow-up period. Conjunctival injection and follicular conjunctivitis were the side effects of topical interferon alpha 2b and were treated with lubrication and steroids.ConclusionThis case series demonstrated the potential efficacy of interferon alpha 2b in the treatment of refractory diabetic macular edema. It might be an option in patients with contraindications for intravitreal injections.
Highlights
Treatment of topical INF-α2b began with the initial regimen of one drop four times per day for the first two or three months based on the investigators’ clinical judgment, including patient’s symptoms, subjective visual improvement, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement, ocular surface health, patient’s tolerability of the regimen and the improvement in retinal structure and contour compared to the baseline evaluation and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings at the one-month follow-up visit
A 70-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes and hypertension for 16 years presented with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and Diabetic macular edema (DME) in November 2007
Diabetic macular edema is a major complication of diabetic retinopathy and one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the working-age population.[1]
Summary
Diabetic macular edema (DME) is one of the most common causes of visual loss in the working-age. Topical Interferon Alpha 2b in the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema. Interferon Alpha 2b in DME; Maleki et al population and can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy.[1]. The prevalence of DME in patients with diabetic retinopathy is 2.7–11%, depending on the type and duration of diabetes.[2–6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
