Title: Comparison of outcomes between intravitreal ranibizumab and intravitreal aflibercept for diabetic macular edema with “Treat-and-Extend” regimen
Abstract: Abstract Background To compare the effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) and aflibercept (IVA) with the Treat-and-Extend (TAE) regimen for diabetic macular edema (DME).Patients and methods Thirteen eyes received an intravitreal injection of 0.5 mg ranibizumab (mean age, 70.9±6.0 years) and 13 eyes received 2 mg aflibercept (65.9±8.6 years). After 3 consecutive monthly injections, they received additional injections with the TAE regimen. The changes in the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CRT, and total number of injections were compared.Results No significant differences were detected in the baseline demographics. The BCVA was significantly improved for both groups; 0.31±0.19 to 0.10±0.12 logMAR units for IVR and 0.41±0.19 to 0.16±0.28 logMAR units for IVA at 24 months ( P <0.01). The CRT was significantly reduced in both groups; 440.9±69.3 to 307.5±66.4 μm for IVR and 473.9±71.5 to 317.8±71.2 μm for IVA at 24 months ( P <0.01). No significant differences were detected in the improvements of the BCVA and reduction in the CRT between them. The total number injections were significant fewer for the IVA group (11.0±1.2) than the IVR group (12.0±1.0) at 24 months ( P =0.02).Conclusion The results showed that the TAE regimen was effective. The IVA group required fewer injections to attain the same improvements.