Phacoemulsification with intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide injection in diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema and cataract

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of phacoemulsification with intravitreal bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide injection in patients with diabetic clinically significant macular edema and cataract.

Methods: The records of 22 diabetic patients, with clinically significant macular edema and cataract who have undergone phacoemulsification with intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg bevacizumab and 2 mg triamcinolone acetonide, were retrospectively evaluated. All patients have undergone focal or modified grid argon laser photocoagulation 1 month after the surgery. All patients were evaluated by spectral OCT/OCT SLO before, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery. The main parameters were the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT). Paired samples t-test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean initial best-corrected visual acuity was 0.15 ± 0.09 (0.05-0.3), whereas it was 0.6 ± 0.28 (SD) (0.3-0.7), 0.6 ± 0.22 (SD) (0.4-0.7) at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery, respectively. The BCVA levels recorded at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery were significantly higher than the initial BCVA (P = 0.002). The mean initial CMT was 392.2 ± 109.5 μm, whereas it was 295 ± 57.2 μm and 265.5 ± 30.3 μm at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery, respectively. The CMT values recorded at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery were significantly lower than the initial CMT (P < 0.001, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Phacoemulsification with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide provides a decrease in CMT with a gain in BCVA in diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema and cataract.