Uppgifter: Kategori: Nyheter; Publicerad 01 november 2019

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography during a 4‐year period in patients treated for sight‐threatening diabetic macular oedema (DMO) at two Swedish county hospitals. Additionally, to compare health‐related quality of life and subjective visual functioning before and after 4 years of treatment.

Methods

Fifty‐eight patients with DMO were evaluated after 4 years of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment. VA, CRT and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. Health‐related quality of life and subjective visual functioning were evaluated with Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and National Eye Institute Vision Functioning Questionnaire 25 (VFQ‐25). Comparisons between independent groups were performed using Pearson's χ² test, Fisher's exact test or Mann–Whitney U test. Spearman's ρ was used for correlation analyses. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used for comparison between dependent groups. Logistic regression analysis was applied for analysis of VA and CRT over 4 years.

Results

Follow‐up data were obtained from 37 of 58 (63.8%) patients. Baseline characteristics were similar, regardless of follow‐up. VA improvement at 1 year (mean + 4.4, SD 7.5; ETDRS letter score) was maintained over 3 years, then declined. CRT was reduced throughout the study. In the first treatment year, eyes received 5.1 (1.4) anti‐VEGF injections, followed by approximately two injections yearly. Additional treatment included laser and dexamethasone implants. SF‐36 showed no change at 4 years, compared with baseline. VFQ‐25 demonstrated improvement in near vision activities (p = 0.036).