Aflibercept monotherapy versus aflibercept with targeted retinal laser to peripheral retinal ischemia for diabetic...

We tested the hypothesis that targeted retinal laser photocoagulation (TPRP) to peripheral retinal ischaemia reduces the overall burden of aflibercept injections when treating diabetic macular oedema (DMO) over a 24-month period.

Prospective, double-masked, multicentre, randomised controlled trial in Australia comparing aflibercept monotherapy, following a treat-and-extend protocol, or combination therapy of aflibercept and TPRP for DMO. The aflibercept monotherapy group received placebo laser. The primary outcome measure was the mean number of intravitreal aflibercept injections for each group at 24 months. Secondary outcome included: mean change in central macular thickness (CMT) and vision at trial completion, the proportion of eyes whose DMO resolved and the mean injection treatment interval. Ocular and systemic adverse events were recorded.

We enrolled 48 eyes of 47 patients; 27 eyes were randomised to combination therapy (aflibercept and TPRP) and 21 to aflibercept monotherapy. Thirty-two eyes (67%) completed the 2-year study. The number of intravitreal treatments given were similar for combination therapy (10.5 (SD 5.8) and monotherapy (11.8 (SD5.6)) (P = 0.44). The mean visual improvement (+4.0 (-1.8, 9.8) and +7.8 (2.6, 12.9) letters, P = 0.32), mean decrease in CMT (-154 (-222,-87) µm and -152 (-218,-86) µm, P = 0.96), proportion of eyes with CMT < 300 µm (48% and 67%; P = 0.50) and safety outcomes were similar in both the combination and monotherapy treatment groups (respectively).

Laser to areas of ischaemic peripheral retina does not reduce the burden of intravitreal aflibercept injections when treating diabetic macular oedema.