Vision-related quality of life and visual function following intravitreal bevacizumab injection for persistent...

To investigate the vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) and visual function in patients undergoing intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) for persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) after vitrectomy.

This institutional study enrolled 20 consecutive patients (20 eyes) who had received 1.25 mg IVB for persistent macular edema after vitrectomy for DME at least 3 months previously. Visual function and VR-QOL were measured before, and 1 and 3 months after IVB. Measurements included the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), letter contrast sensitivity, severity of metamorphopsia using M-CHARTS, central retinal thickness using optical coherence tomography, and VR-QOL with the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25).

One month after IVB, statistically significant improvements were observed in central retinal thickness, letter contrast sensitivity, and the VFQ-25 "mental health" subscale score (P < 0.05, Dunnett test). LogMAR BCVA, metamorphopsia, and the VFQ-25 composite score did not improve significantly. Three months after IVB, there were no significant improvements in any parameters examined.

Intravitreal bevacizumab injection for persistent DME after vitrectomy temporarily improved central retinal thickness, contrast sensitivity, and the psychometric aspect of the VR-QOL, but these effects did not last for over 3 months.