A Randomized Trial of Photobiomodulation Therapy for Center-Involved Diabetic Macular Edema with Good Visual Acuity (Protocol AE).

PURPOSE: To determine if treatment with a photobiomodulation (PBM) device results in greater improvement in central subfield thickness (CST) than placebo in eyes with center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) and good vision. DESIGN: Phase 2 randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Participants had CI-DME and visual acuity (VA) 20/25 or better in the study eye and were recruited from 23 clinical sites in the United States. METHODS: One eye of each participant was randomly assigned 1:1 to a 670-nm light-emitting PBM eye patch or an identical device emitting broad-spectrum white light at low power. Treatment was applied for 90 seconds twice daily for 4 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in CST on spectral-domain OCT at 4 months. RESULTS: From April 2019 to February 2020, 135 adults were randomly assigned to either PBM (n = 69) or placebo (n = 66); median age was 62 years, 37% were women, and 82% were White. The median device compliance was 92% with PBM and 95% with placebo. OCT CST increased from baseline to 4 months by a mean (SD) of 13 (53) µm in PBM eyes and 15 (57) µm in placebo eyes, with the mean difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) being -2 (-20 to 16) µm (P = 0.84). CI-DME, based on DRCR Retina Network sex- and machine-based thresholds, was present in 61 (90%) PBM eyes and 57 (86%) placebo eyes at 4 months (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] = 1.30 (0.44-3.83); P = 0.63). VA decreased by a mean (SD) of -0.2 (5.5) letters and -0.6 (4.6) letters in the PBM and placebo groups, respectively (difference [95% CI] = 0.4 (-1.3 to 2.0) letters; P = 0.64). There were 8 adverse events possibly related to the PBM device and 2 adverse events possibly related to the placebo device. None were serious. CONCLUSIONS: PBM as given in this study, although safe and well-tolerated, was not found to be effective for the treatment of CI-DME in eyes with good vision.

CENTRAL SEROUS CHORIORETINOPATHY ASSOCIATED WITH STEROID ENEMA.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To report a case of acute recurrent central serous chorioretinopathy that developed after a regimen of corticosteroid enemas and suppositories. METHODS: Observational case report. Fluorescein angiography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: A 47-year-old male patient with ulcerative colitis managed through hydrocortisone enemas presented to clinic with a 1-day history of blurry vision of his left eye. Posterior segment examination revealed subretinal fluid in the superotemporal macula of the left eye extending centrally. After diagnosis of acute central serous chorioretinopathy, the patient was advised to taper steroid enemas and his visual symptoms and subretinal fluid resolved within the month. Seven years later, several months after using steroid suppositories for the first time since the original central serous chorioretinopathy episode, asymptomatic subretinal fluid accumulation with foveal sparing was found on routine ophthalmic examination. Three months later, most of this fluid had resolved with minimal residual subretinal fluid on clinical examination. CONCLUSION: Acute central serous chorioretinopathy may develop after corticosteroid enema or suppository use, a route of administration that has not been previously reported in association with the disease.