Budget Impact Analysis of Intravitreal Injections Used to Treat Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema in the Dubai Healthcare System.

Objectives: With the rising prevalence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), this study assesses the budget impact of current intravitreal injections (faricimab, brolucizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept) on Dubai's private sector. The aim is to identify the most cost-effective intervention by evaluating utilization costs based on injection frequencies and direct acquisition expenses.

Methods: An Excel-based budget impact model, aligned with the current standard of care, incorporates direct medical costs only, acquisition prices of the 4 interventions, procedure costs, optical coherence tomography diagnosis and consultation visit costs, and average administration costs in Dubai's healthcare system.

Management of Diabetic Macular Edema: Guidelines from the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology.

In the United Arab Emirates, retinopathy has been shown to be present in 19% of the diabetic population, with diabetes identified in up to 40% of individuals aged over 55 years. Despite the prevalence of diabetic retinal diseases, there are no unified national guidelines on the management of diabetic macular edema (DME). These published guidelines are based on evidence taken from the literature and published trials of therapies, and consensus opinion of a representative expert panel with an interest in this condition, convened by the Emirates Society of Ophthalmology.