Comparison of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Alone Injection and Intravitreal Combination Low-Dose Bevacizumab-Triamcinolone Injection or Diabetic Macular Edema

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the effects and intraocular pressure results of intravitreal bevacizumab alone injection compared with intravitreal low-dose bevacizumab combined with low-dose triamcinolone injection in patients with diabetic macular edema. METHODS: In total, 40 eyes of 40 patients diagnosed with diabetic macular edema were evaluated. Of these, 20 eyes of 20 patients were injected with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) and 20 eyes of 20 patients were injected with low-dose bevacizumab (0.625 mg/0.025 mL) combined with low-dose triamcinolone (1 mg/0.025 mL). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness, and intraocular pressure of treated eyes were measured before injection and at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after injection. RESULTS: In both the intravitreal bevacizumab and the low-dose bevacizumab combined with low-dose triamcinolone groups, BCVA increased significantly at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after injection (p 0.05). The BCVA, IOP, and central macular thickness (CMT) at 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after injection showed no significant differences between the intravitreal bevacizumab group and the low-dose bevacizumab combined with low-dose triamcinolone group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The BCVA of both groups increased significantly, and the CMT of both groups decreased significantly in patients with diabetic macular edema. The injection of low-dose intravitreal bevacizumab combined with low-dose intravitreal triamcinolone may be useful for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.