TELANGIECTATIC CAPILLARIES CAUSING PERSISTENT DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Diabetic Retinopathy Research

Background:

• Persistent macular edema is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy.
• Diabetic telangiectatic capillaries (TelCaps) can cause recalcitrant macular edema.
• Conventional treatments may be contraindicated or ineffective for certain cases of diabetic macular edema.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present two cases of persistent macular edema due to exudative TelCaps.
• To demonstrate the successful application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in these cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of two patients with persistent macular edema caused by parafoveolar TelCaps.
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) applied focally to perifoveolar TelCaps.
• Conventional laser therapy was not feasible due to TelCap proximity to the foveal center.

Main Results:

• Focal PDT successfully reduced persistent macular edema.
• Visual acuity was fully restored within 4-6 months post-PDT.
• Central macular thickness normalized in one case and significantly reduced in the other.
• Sustained visual gain was observed throughout the follow-up periods (2 years and 1 year).

Conclusions:

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a viable treatment option for diabetic macular edema caused by TelCaps.
• PDT is particularly useful for cases unresponsive to intravitreal therapies or where conventional laser is contraindicated.