Efficacy of Intra-Vitreal Bevacizumab Combined with Phaco-Emulsification in the Prophylaxis of Macular Edema in Patients with Non-Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the prophylactic efficiency of intra-vitreal Bevacizumab combined with cataract surgery in patients of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema for the prevention of macular edema by assessing the visual outcome. Methodology: This was interventional, randomized, open-label and control study of two parallel groups of already diagnosed patients with pre-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema. The study included sixty eyes of sixty patients, having non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without macular edema and lens opacity (grade 1 to 3). One group (n=30) received intra-vitreal injection of Bevacizumab and the control group (n= 30) did not received intra-vitreal injection of Bevacizumab at the time of standard phaco-emulsification. Main outcome measure was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the end of two months compared with the baseline visual acuity recorded along with central macular thickness (CMT) measured on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as required. Results: The outcome was an improvement of BCVA at the end of 8^th week compared with that at baseline in the Bevacizumab group and a worsening of visual acuity in the control group (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Prophylactic use of intravitreal Bevacizumab combined with phacoemulsification appears to be beneficial in preventing post-surgical visual loss in eyes with NPDR by preventing the chance of macular edema.