Retinal vein changes after treatment with aflibercept and PRP in high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of aflibercept and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 59 patients (59 eyes) with high-risk PDR who were treated with aflibercept and PRP between January 2018 and December 2019. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and retinal vein diameter post-treatment were compared to those before the treatment. ResultsThe best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6 months (0.49 +/- 0.14 logMAR), 12 months (0.54 +/- 0.15 logMAR), 18 months (0.48 +/- 0.15 logMAR), and 24 months (0.51 +/- 0.15 logMAR) post-treatment were superior to the pre-treatment measurement (0.65 +/- 0.18 logMAR). The central foveal thickness (CFT) at 6 months (310.67 +/- 52.53 mu m), 12 months (295.98 +/- 45.65 mu m), 18 months (282.56 +/- 43.57 mu m), and 24 months (281.53 +/- 51.16 mu m) post-treatment were lower than the pre-treatment measurement (456.53 +/- 51.49 mu m); the retinal vein diameter at 12 months (310.13 +/- 24.60 mu m), 18 months (309.50 +/- 31.58 mu m), and 24 months (317.00 +/- 27.54 mu m) post-treatment were lower than the pre-treatment measurement (361.81 +/- 30.26 mu m). ConclusionAflibercept intravitreal injection and panretinal photocoagulation may morphologically reverse retinal vein diameter and venous beading in high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of aflibercept and panretinal photocoagulation in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The results showed that aflibercept and panretinal photocoagulation improved best corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness, and retinal vein diameter compared to pre-treatment measurements.