Rapid progression of high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy induced by insulin intensive therapy: A case report

To summarize and analyze a case of rapid progression of high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy after the insulin intensive therapy (IT).

A 58-year-old type 2 diabetes female patient suffered a rapid and dramatic decline of vision acuity in the left eye in 2 months after the insulin IT. However, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of her right eye, which was in much severer condition and received panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) before, improved after the IT.

The patient received intravitreal injection of conbercept (IVC) to her left eye, and 5 days later, underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), combined with PRP and silicon oil injection.

The postoperative BCVA of the left eye was 20/200 and improved to 20/160 one month later. During the subsequent 2 months of follow-up, her BCVA remained 20/160 in both eyes. Her blood glucose level also remained stable.

Insulin IT for untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients can cause severe and irreversible consequences, so for such patients, the conservative treatment for glycemic control may be much safer. But if insulin IT is inevitable, the patient should undergo PRP promptly before the IT, and close eye monitoring during the IT is also essential.