[Association between pioglitazone and diabetic macular edema].

PURPOSE: To assess the early association between pioglitazone and diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: 570 eyes of 285 patients who began taking pioglitazone (ACTOS) between 23 July 2003 and 31 December 2010 at St. Luke's International Hospital participated. Of the 570 eyes seen during the study period, the study included 304 eyes in which the macula was evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy or optical coherence tomography within 3 months of the start of pioglitazone therapy. The participants were divided into two groups, one without DME and one with DME before taking pioglitazone, and the proportion of DME appearance in the first group and DME increase in the latter group were assessed. RESULTS: There were 297 eyes without DME before taking pioglitazone. DME appeared in one eye out of 297 eyes (0.34%) after taking pioglitazone. There were 7 eyes with DME before taking pioglitazone. DME increased in 2 eyes out of these 7 eyes (28.6%). CONCLUSION: For the patients without DME, the occurrence of DME was extremely low after taking pioglitazone. However, for patients with DME, caution is needed, as there were some cases in which DME increased after taking pioglitazone. The ophthalmologist should monitor macular edema in cooperation with a physician after giving pioglitazone.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging of retinal changes after conventional multicolor laser, subthreshold micropulse diode laser, or pattern scanning laser therapy in Japanese with macular edema.

PURPOSE: To perform optical coherence tomography imaging of retinal healing after conventional multicolor laser, pattern scanning laser, or micropulse laser treatment and compare the characteristics of each method. METHODS: This was a single-center interventional case series study. Twenty-nine patients with macular edema underwent laser photocoagulation. Changes of retinal morphology because of laser-tissue interaction were assessed within 3 months by using a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Immediately after conventional multicolor laser or pattern scanning laser treatment, a hyperreflective band appeared at the laser sites. The photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment line disappeared in all the patients treated with a conventional multicolor laser, but was intact in 22.2% (2/9 eyes) after pattern scanning laser. From 1 week to 1 month, the bands resolved. At 3 months, recovery of the inner segment-outer segment line surrounding the laser site was seen in all patients after conventional grid photocoagulation and pattern scanning laser. Retinal morphology did not change at any time during the observation period after subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation. CONCLUSION: The characteristic in vivo effects of retinal photocoagulation were monitored over time by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Changes of retinal morphology appeared less intense after pattern scanning laser than conventional grid laser treatment.

[Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation combined with direct photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema in Japanese patients].

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation (SMDLP) combined with direct photocoagulation. METHODS: Twenty one eyes of 20 patients with diabetic macular edema were treated with SMDLP and direct photocoagulation for microaneurysms within 1 month after SMDLP. The mean visual acuity in logMAR units and central macular thickness (CMT) were evaluated both before and after laser treatment by retrospective chart review and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: The mean visual acuity did not change significantly at 3 and at 6 months. The mean CMT was significantly reduced at 3 and 6 months (3 months: p = 0.018, 6 months: p = 0.004). Visual acuity improved or maintained for 6 months in all of the patients (100%, 20 eyes of 20 patients). CONCLUSION: SMDLP combined with direct photocoagulation maintains visual acuity and improves diabetic macular edema for at least 6 months.

Impact of Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration before Visual Function Is Impaired.

Visual outcomes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have substantially improved via anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy. However, the treatment effects vary among individuals. Medical charts of 104 eyes (104 patients) with AMD, treated with anti-VEGF drugs and followed up for 12−36 months, were retrospectively analyzed. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age showed that eyes with an initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) < 0.3 in the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) were a positive predictor (odds ratio = 3.172; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.029−9.783; p = 0.045), and the presence of initial fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment (PED) was a negative predictor (0.222; 0.078−0.637; p = 0.005) of maintained or improved BCVA at the final visit. Kaplan−Meier survival analysis showed that eyes with an initial BCVA < 0.3 (Cox hazard ratio = 2.947; 95% CI = 1.047−8.289; p = 0.041) had a better survival rate after adjusting for age when failure was defined as a BCVA reduction ≥ 0.2 of logMAR. Eyes with an initial BCVA < 0.3 belonged to younger patients; more frequently had subretinal fluid as an exudative change; and less frequently had intraretinal fluid, submacular hemorrhage, and fibrovascular PED. Initiating anti-VEGF treatment before BCVA declines and advanced lesions develop would afford better visual outcomes for AMD eyes in the real-world clinic, although further analyses are required.

Arm-to-retina time predicts visual outcome of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion.

To explore the factors associated with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 22 eyes of 22 treatment-naïve patients with CRVO diagnosed between September 2014 and December 2020. They received anti-VEGF treatment and follow-up for > 12 months. Mean patient age was 64.3 years; 13 (59.1%) were men. Eyes with baseline arm-to-retina (AR) time ≥ 16 s had better BCVA at 12 months (adjusted for baseline BCVA and age; B, - 0.658; 95% confidence interval - 1.058 to - 0.257; P = 0.003), greater mean BCVA change (P = 0.006), lower frequency of residual macular edema at 12 months (P = 0.026) and recurrent and/or unresolved macular edema during 12 months (P = 0.046), and higher frequency of reduction in central retinal thickness ≥ 150 µm at 1 and 12 months (both P = 0.046). Delayed AR time was associated with a better visual outcome and macular edema improvement in CRVO after anti-VEGF treatment regardless of initial BCVA and age. Our results may help understand the pathogenesis and predict the visual prognosis of patients before anti-VEGF therapy initiation.

Temperature Increase and Damage Extent at Retinal Pigment Epithelium Compared between Continuous Wave and Micropulse Laser Application.

Continuous wave (CW) and microsecond pulse (MP) laser irradiations were compared regarding cell damage and laser-induced temperature rise at retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE of porcine RPE-choroid-sclera explants was irradiated with a 577 nm laser in CW or MP mode (5% or 15% duty cycle (DC)) for 20 ms or 200 ms at an average laser power of 20−90 mW. Cell viability was investigated with calcein-AM staining. Optoacoustic (OA) technique was employed for temperature measurement during irradiation. For 200 ms irradiation, the dead cell area (DCA) increased linearly (≈1600 µm2/mW) up to the average power of 40 mW for all modes without significant difference. From 50 mW, the increase of DCA of MP-5% significantly dropped to 610 µm2/mW (p < 0.05), likely due to the detected microbubble formation. OA temperature measurement showed a monotonic temperature increase in CW mode and a stepwise increase in MP mode, but no significant difference in the average temperature increase at the same average power, consistent with the temperature modeling. In conclusion, there is no difference in the average temperature rise between CW and MP modes at the same average power regardless of DC. At lower DC, however, more caution is required regarding mechanical damage due to microbubble formation.

Treatment of diabetic macular edema in real-world clinical practice: The effect of aging.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: In older patients, the management of diabetic macular edema (DME) can be complicated by comorbidities, geriatric syndrome, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to evaluate the effects of aging on the management of DME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a real-world clinical study including 1,552 patients with treatment-naïve center-involved DME. The patients were categorized into 4 categories by age at baseline (C1, <55; C2, 55-64; C3, 65-74; and C4, ≥75 years). The outcomes were the change in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT), and the number of treatments from baseline to 2 years. RESULTS: From baseline to 2 years, the mean changes in logMAR BCVA from baseline to 2 years were -0.01 in C1, -0.06 in C2, -0.07 in C3, and 0.01 in C4 (P = 0.016), and the mean changes in CRT were -136.2 µm in C1, -108.8 µm in C2, -100.6 µm in C3, and -89.5 µm in C4 (P = 0.008). Treatments applied in the 2 year period exhibited decreasing trends with increasing age category on the number of intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents (P = 0.06), selecting local corticosteroid injection (P = 0.031), vitrectomy (P < 0.001), and laser photocoagulation outside the great vascular arcade (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with younger patients with DME, patients with DME aged ≥75 years showed less frequent treatment, a lower BCVA gain, and a smaller CRT decrease. The management and visual outcome in older patients with DME would be unsatisfactory in real-world clinical practice.

[Retinal sensitivity following subthreshold diode laser micropulse photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema].

PURPOSE: To report the retinal sensitivity after subthreshold diode laser micropulse photocoagulation(SDM) to evaluate its safety. METHODS: Eight eyes of 8 diabetic patients with clinically significant macular edema were treated with SDM. SDM was applied with a 15% duty cycle, 0.2 to 0.3 sec, 200 microm, at 700 to 800 mW. Postoperative retinal sensitivity (1-2 weeks) was compared to preoperative retinal sensitivity measured by microperimeter-1 (MP-1, Nidek technologies, Padova, Italy) using a 1 x 1 mm square test grid with 49 stimulus locations. RESULTS: The retinal sensitivity improved (more than 2 dB) in 3 eyes and remained stable (within 2 dB) in 5 eyes. The median retinal sensitivity increased significantly in 5 eyes and decreased significantly in 3 eyes. The average retinal sensitivity of 8 eyes was 12.04 +/- 3.69 dB before laser treatment, and 13.20 3.47 dB after laser treatment and there was no statistically significant change in retinal sensitivity at 2 weeks (p = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Short duration SDM for diabetic macular edema has no significant effect on retinal sensitivity.

Subthreshold Laser Treatment for Serous Retinal Detachment Associated with Tilted Disc Syndrome.

Persistent serous retinal detachment (SRD) is a common complication of tilted disc syndrome (TDS). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of subthreshold laser photocoagulation for SRD associated with TDS. This retrospective, single-center study included 5 eyes of 5 patients with TDS-associated SRD treated by subthreshold laser treatment. SRD was completely absorbed in 4 eyes within 4 months after initial treatment. However, it recurred in 2 eyes; one required additional laser treatment and one showed spontaneous resolution. Eventually, all 4 eyes showed complete SRD resorption. The mean visual acuities at enrollment and 1 and 3 months showed no significant differences. The mean central macular thickness showed a significant decrease at 3 months. Two eyes showed changes in fundus autofluorescence findings at the laser ablation site. However, there were no instances of laser scotoma and no laser-induced retinal scarring on color fundus photography performed at the end of treatment. In conclusion, subthreshold laser photocoagulation is an effective treatment for SRD associated with TDS. Thus, the clinical indications of subthreshold laser photocoagulation may be extended to SRD in patients with TDS.

Functional and anatomical changes in diabetic macular edema after hemodialysis initiation: One-year follow-up multicenter study.

Diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy (DR) including diabetic macular edema (DME) are representative microvascular complications of diabetes. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study analyzing records from patients with DR (132 eyes in 70 patients) and end-stage renal diseases (ESRD) who underwent hemodialysis for the first time. We demonstrated that the central retinal thickness (CRT) values were significantly decreased (p < 0.0001), and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) values were improved (p < 0.05) at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after hemodialysis initiation, in spite of a lack of specific ocular treatments for DME in 93.2% of eyes. We found a significant positive correlation in the rates of CRT changes between right and left eyes. The CRT reductions were greater in eyes with DME type subretinal detachment than in those with spongelike swelling and cystoid macular edema. The visual outcome gain was associated with the CRT reduction at 12 months in the eyes with good initial BCVA (≧20/50). Hemodialysis induction contributed to functional and anatomical improvements after 1 year, independently of initial laboratory values before the hemodialysis.

Real-world management of treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema: 2-year visual outcome focusing on the starting year of intervention from STREAT-DMO study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate the yearly change of real-world outcomes for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 2-year clinical intervention for treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema (DMO). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of aggregated, longitudinal medical records obtained from 27 retina specialised institutions in Japan from Survey of Treatment for DMO database. A total of 2049 treatment-naïve centre involving DMO eyes of which the initial intervention started between 2010 and 2015, and had been followed for 2 years, were eligible. As interventions, antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, local corticosteroids, macular photocoagulation and vitrectomy were defined. In each eye, baseline and final BCVA, the number of each intervention for 2 years was extracted. Each eye was classified by starting year of interventional treatment. RESULTS: Although baseline BCVA did not change by year, 2-year improvement of BCVA had been increased, and reached to +6.5 letters in the latest term. There is little difference among starting year about proportions of eyes which BCVA gained >15 letters, in contrast to those which lost >15 letters were decreased by year. The proportion of eyes receiving anti-VEGF therapy was dramatically increased, while those receiving the other therapies were gradually decreased. The proportion of eyes which maintained socially good vision of BCVA>20/40 has been increased and reached to 59.0% in the latest term. CONCLUSION: For recent years, treatment patterns for DMO have been gradually but certainly changed; as a result, better visual gain, suppression of worsened eyes and better final BCVA have been obtained. Anti-VEGF therapy has become the first-line therapy and its injection frequency has been increasing.

Real-world management of treatment-naïve diabetic macular oedema in Japan: two-year visual outcomes with and without anti-VEGF therapy in the STREAT-DME study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To investigate real-world outcomes for best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after 2-year clinical intervention for treatment-naïve, centr-involving diabetic macular oedema (DME). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of longitudinal medical records obtained from 27 institutions specialising in retinal diseases in Japan. A total of 2049 eyes with treatment-naïve DME commencing intervention between 2010 and 2015 who were followed for 2 years were eligible. Interventions for DME included anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, local corticosteroid therapy, macular photocoagulation and vitrectomy. Baseline and final BCVA (logMAR) were assessed. Eyes were classified by the treatment pattern, depending on whether anti-VEGF therapy was used, into an anti-VEGF monotherapy group (group A), a combination therapy group (group B) and a group without anti-VEGF therapy (group C). RESULTS: The mean 2-year improvement of BCVA was -0.04±0.40 and final BCVA of >20/40 was obtained in 46.3% of eyes. Based on the treatment pattern, there were 427 eyes (20.9%) in group A, 807 eyes (39.4%) in group B and 815 eyes (39.8%) in group C. Mean improvement of BCVA was -0.09±0.39, -0.02±0.40 and -0.05±0.39, and the percentage of eyes with final BCVA of >20/40 was 49.4%, 38.9%, and 52.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Following 2-year real-world management of treatment-naïve DME in Japan, BCVA improved by 2 letters. Eyes treated by anti-VEGF monotherapy showed a better visual prognosis than eyes receiving combination therapy. Despite treatment for DME being selected by specialists in consideration of medical and social factors, a satisfactory visual prognosis was not obtained, but final BCVA remained >20/40 in half of all eyes.

Minimally invasive laser treatment combined with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for diabetic macular oedema.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the combination of minimally invasive laser treatment to the intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for diabetic macular oedema (DME). This study was retrospective longitudinal study of thirty-four eyes of 31 patients with DME. Either once or several times of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection was followed by the single minimally invasive laser within a month. The mean best corrected visual acuity (VA) and the central macular thickness (CMT) were measured before treatment, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the first anti-VEGF injection. The mean logMAR VA had improved from 0.52 ± 0.34 at baseline to 0.44 ± 0.32 (p = 0.003), 0.40 ± 0.34 (p = 0.006), 0.43 ± 0.33 (p = 0.063), and 0.41 ± 0.34 (p = 0.009), at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment, respectively. The mean CMT decreased significantly by 1 month and maintained over 12 months (491.1 ± 133.9 µm at baseline, 396.6 ± 116.8 µm (p = 0.001), 385.2 ± 156.2 µm (p = 0.002), 336.5 ± 86.3 µm (p = 0.000), and 354.8 ± 120.4 µm (p = 0.000) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively). The average number of the anti-VEGF injection in 1 year was 3.6 ± 2.1 in all patients. The combined intravitreal anti-VEGF and minimally invasive laser therapy improves the VA, alleviates DME, and may decrease the required number of anti-VEGF injections.

Efficacy and retention times of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the retention of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) particles and the efficacy of TA therapy for patients with cystoid macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or diabetic macular edema (DME). We monitored the TA particles until absorption from the vitreous cavity was complete. The correlation between the intravitreal retention time of TA and its efficacy was evaluated based on central macular thickness (CMT). RESULTS: The intravitreal TA retention time was a mean 141.8 +/- 139.6 days in BRVO patients and 114.5 +/- 59.6 days in DME patients. Patient age and retention time were negatively correlated (r = -0.46; P = 0.013). At 6 months posttreatment the mean CMT decreased from 544.1 +/- 143.7 to 322.4 +/- 131.9 mum in BRVO patients and from 454.5 +/- 119.0 to 371.2 +/- 209.4 mum in DME patients. Retention time and CMT reduction were positively correlated in BRVO patient (r = 0.56, P = 0.02) but not in DME patients (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal TA reduced the CMT in BRVO and DME patients over 6 months. The retention time was longer in younger individuals. The efficacy of the therapy depended on the intravitreal TA retention time observed clinically in BRVO patients. Biomicroscopic examination of intravitreal TA is useful for evaluation of its efficacy.

Subthreshold Photocoagulation Using Endpoint Management in the PASCAL® System for Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema.

We evaluated subthreshold photocoagulation using endpoint management (EPM) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). The study enrolled 10 eyes from 10 patients (6 men and 4 women) with DME. The entry criteria included central macular thickness (CMT) ≥ 300 µm and decimal visual acuity (VA) ≤ 0.5. The primary endpoints were VA (logMAR) and CMT at 6 months follow-up. Secondary endpoints included fundus autofluorescence, macular volume (MV), and macular sensitivity (MS). We used the PASCAL Streamline Yellow® (wavelength, 577 nm) system to perform grid pattern laser photocoagulation at 50% of the threshold (size, 100 µm; duration, 0.015 s; spacing, 0.5; and energy, 4.5-7.8 mJ). At 6 months posttreatment, CMT was significantly decreased, while there were no significant changes in macular sensitivity, mean BCVA (logMAR), or macular volume. Autofluorescence imaging revealed no changes after treatment in 6 of 10 eyes. No eyes exhibited subjective symptoms of scotoma after photocoagulation. Optical coherence tomography showed the complete resolution of macular edema in 4 eyes (40%) after a single treatment; MS was increased in all 4 of these eyes at 6 months posttreatment. In conclusion, subthreshold photocoagulation using EPM is safe and effective for DME treatment and preserves MS. This trial is registered with UMIN000012401.

Visualization of microaneurysms using optical coherence tomography angiography: comparison of OCTA en face, OCT B-scan, OCT en face, FA, and IA images.

PURPOSE: To compare the visualization of microaneurysms (MAs) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) with that using fluorescein angiography (FA). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, clinical, and experimental. METHODS: This study was a prospective evaluation of imaging technology. Thirty-seven eyes of 33 patients with DR were scanned using an OCTA instrument. The 83 MAs that were confirmed on OCT B-scan and OCT en face images were evaluated using OCTA, and these findings were compared with those evaluated using FA. RESULTS: Of the 83 MAs confirmed on OCT B-scan images, 73 (88%) were clearly visualized on the OCTA en face images as nodular or comma-shaped structures, while the remaining 12% did not present with a typical MA or vascular structure on the OCTA en face images at the relevant positions. Seventy-four of the 83 MAs (87%) confirmed on the OCT B-scan images presented as punctate hyperfluorescent spots on the FA images. On the FA images, 8 of 9 (88%) MAs absent on the OCTA en face images presented as hyperfluorescent spots. Visualization of the MAs on the OCTA en face images did not correlate with the OCT B-scan images of the MA lumens (open, closed, or heterogeneous). CONCLUSIONS: For diabetic maculopathy, OCTA en face images do not present with comprehensive MAs images, indicating that some MAs might be overlooked with OCTA en face images.

Correction to: Visualization of microaneurysms using optical coherence tomography angiography: comparison of OCTA en face, OCT B­scan, OCT en face, FA, and IA images.

In the original publication, the yellow circles in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b are placed incorrectly. The corrected figures are given in this Erratum.

Risk Factors Associated with Retinal Lesions Resulting from Widespread Systemic Infection.

PURPOSE: To clarify the prevalence, microbiologic features, and risk factors of endogenous intraocular infections in patients with positive fungal or bacterial blood culture results. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Inpatients (n = 433) with positive blood culture results who underwent an ophthalmology consultation between January 2006 and September 2012 in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the ophthalmology consultations of 433 inpatients with positive blood culture results. Clinical features of patients with confirmed chorioretinitis or endophthalmitis were analyzed through descriptive statistical methods and univariate and multivariate models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Correlation of clinical features with retinal lesions of disseminated bacteremia or fungemia. RESULTS: Among 433 inpatients with positive blood culture results, 116 (26.8%) were unresponsive and 27 (6.2%) had subjective ocular symptoms. Eighty-four (19.4%) had candidemia, including 16 (3.7%) with retinal lesions. Additionally, 34 patients (7.8%) had chorioretinitis or endophthalmitis in 1 eye (17 patients [3.9%]) or both eyes (17 eyes [3.9%]; 51 eyes total). Of these 34 patients, 20 (58.8%) and 17 (50%) had systemic bacterial and fungal infections, respectively (both infections were noted in 3 patients [8.8%]). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria. Candida albicans was the most common fungus, followed by Candida glabrata. Catheter-related bloodstream infections were the most common source of infection among the 34 patients with chorioretinitis or endophthalmitis, followed by infective endocarditis, urinary tract infection, and soft-tissue and bone disease. Among the 114 bacteremic patients who underwent an ophthalmology consultation because of suspicion of infective endocarditis, only 16 (14%) had infective endocarditis, of whom only 1 (0.88%) had retinal lesions. Nineteen of 34 patients (55.9%) with retinal lesions survived sepsis. Among them, only 1 patient (5.3%) with bacteremia lost significant vision (no light perception), and the remaining 18 patients (94.7%) regained vision. No patient with candidemia had vision loss. Multivariate analysis revealed that candidemia, infective endocarditis, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, and eye symptoms were independent predictors of retinal lesions (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An ophthalmology consultation may be useful for patients with candidemia, infective endocarditis, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, or ocular symptoms. However, routine ophthalmologic evaluation may be less efficient for bacteremic patients without definitive infective endocarditis lacking other risk factors.

Interdigitation Zone Band Restoration After Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether the integrity of the interdigitation zone band, the ellipsoid zone band, and the external limiting membrane are reliable markers of treatment outcome in diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: In this retrospective study, we examined 41 treatment-naïve eyes (38 patients) with DME that were treated with laser therapy, pharmacotherapy, and/or vitrectomy. Best-corrected visual acuity and the integrity of the interdigitation zone band, the ellipsoid zone band, and the external limiting membrane were assessed before treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months after DME treatment. RESULTS: One year after treatment, the external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone band, and interdigitation zone band were completely visible in 30 (73.2%), 24 (58.5%), and 2 (4.9%) eyes, respectively. Interdigitation zone band status improved significantly (P = 0.005) 1 year after treatment. The interdigitation zone did not improve in the absence of the ellipsoid zone band. Likewise, ellipsoid zone status did not improve in the absence of the external limiting membrane at any time after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that restoration of the interdigitation zone band constitutes a very sensitive marker of DME treatment outcome when the ellipsoid zone band is visible before treatment.

[Visual prognosis and prognostic risk factors after photocoagulation for diffuse diabetic macular edema].

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of photocoagulation for diffuse diabetic macular edema. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema were treated by laser photocoagulation (grid pattern photocoagulation, in some instances combined with direct photocoagulation) and followed up more than 1 year. The visual prognosis of these cases was retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Log MAR) final visual acuity after photocoagulation was improved more than 0.2 levels in 62 eyes (41%) of a total 150 eyes, and in 60% of 87 eyes in which preoperative visual acuity had been less than 0.5. Average visual acuity after photocoagulation reached a plateau within three months after surgery, and 84% of the eyes with 0.5 or better preoperative visual acuity achieved 0.5 or better final visual acuity. There was correlation between visual prognosis and the following preoperative factors: preoperative visual acuity, hard exudates, fluorescein leakage, grid area, hyperlipidemia, and renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: Grid photocoagulation as a treatment for diffuse diabetic macular edema is effective to improve or maintain visual acuity. Alternative treatment such as vitrectomy should be considered after three-month observation on the outcome of grid photocoagulation.