Macular Edema in Diabetic Neovascular Glaucoma and Its Association with Systemic Diseases

This study assessed the development of macular edema (ME) and its association with systemic diseases in patients with diabetic neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

The medical records of 40 patients (45 eyes) diagnosed with diabetic NVG, between January 2017 and April 2022, were retrospectively reviewed. At the time of NVG diagnosis, central retinal thickness (CRT) was measured using optical coherence tomography. The eyes were categorized into groups with ME (CRT ≥300 μm) and without ME. Systemic diseases, ocular parameters, and prior treatments such as panretinal photocoagulation and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections were compared between the two groups.

Only 6 of the 45 eyes (13.3%) had ME at the time of NVG diagnosis. No significant differences were observed between the ME and non-ME groups in terms of systemic diseases, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accident, and chronic kidney disease. Other clinical characteristics, such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, lens status, and history of ocular treatment, were also comparable between groups.

In patients with diabetic NVG, ME was observed in a minority of cases and showed no significant association with systemic diseases.