[Choice of treatment for diabetic macular edema]

Diabetic macular edema (DME), which is the consequence of the failed blood-retinal barrier, has become a leading cause of blindness in diabetic patients. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and a series of inflammatory factors participate in the pathophysiology of DME. Laser photocoagulation was accepted as the first-line therapy before anti-VEGF therapy was proved to be more effective by several clinical trials. Anti-VEGF therapy has been regarded as the standard treatment, but there are still lots of cases resistant to anti-VEGF therapy. Corticosteroid treatment has also been proved effective, especially in refractory DME. This demonstrates that inflammation plays a role in DME as well. Here we discuss the situation of anti-VEGF and anti-inflammation therapies for DME. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 724-728).