Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Diabetic Macular Edema Patients with Good Baseline Visual Acuity: A Real-Life Study

INTRODUCTION: This is a report of 12-month real-life outcomes of ranibizumab treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients who had a baseline visual acuity (VA) ≥0.6 in decimals.
METHODS: Newly diagnosed treatment-naïve DME patients with a VA ≥0.6 who completed a follow-up of 12 months after treatment with ranibizumab were included retrospectively. The patients were evaluated in terms of change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT), and the total number of visits and injections.
RESULTS: A total of 27 eyes of 24 patients were included. Mean BCVA at baseline, month 3, 6, 9, and 12 was 0.77±0.11 in decimals, 0.72±0.23, 0.72±0.18, 0.70±0.21, and 0.71±0.19, respectively. Mean CRT at baseline, month 3, 6, 9, and 12 was 420±79, 394±97, 341±54, 360±102, and 350±106 microns, respectively. The mean number of visits and injections was 4.8±1.0 and 3.5±1.5, respectively.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab seems to be effective in maintaining VA and improving anatomy in DME patients with a good baseline VA. However, adherence to the needed treatment regimen seems to be insufficient in real life and probably limits the visual success in this group of patients.