Relationship between visual outcomes and retinal fluid resorption in patients with diabetic macular edema treated with ranibizumab.

PURPOSE: We assessed the relationship between visual acuity (VA) recovery and a qualitative criterion - complete retinal fluid resorption (CRFR) - among patients treated with ranibizumab for diabetic macular edema (DME) METHODS: All consecutive diabetic patients with central DME received a loading dose of 3 monthly injections of ranibizumab 0.5mg, followed by retreatments on an as-needed basis as determined by monthly follow-up. Patients were divided into 3 groups: CRFR (defined as a CRT <300μm and restoration of the foveolar pit) with BCVA≤70 letters (group 1: G1), CRFR with BCVA>70 letters (20/40) (G2), and persistent retinal fluid throughout the follow-up (G3).

RESULTS: Forty eyes were included. Mean baseline VA was 48.7 letters and no patient had VA>70 letters. Twenty-four (60%) eyes achieved CRFR: 12 (30%) in G1 and 12 (30%) in G2. In 16 patients (40%), the efficacy of the treatment was partial without CRFR (G3). At the time of the initial CRFR, VA was 57.4 letters in G1 (min-max: 30-65) and 77.5 letters in G2 (71-85). In G3, maximal VA during follow-up was 55 letters (25-70) and no patient achieved a VA >70 letters.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, CRFR was required but not sufficient to achieve a VA>70 letters.