A randomized clinical trial of intravitreal bevacizumab versus intravitreal dexamethasone for diabetic macular edema: the BEVORDEX study.

Objective: To report the 12-month results of the first head-to-head comparison of a dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) versus bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, South San Francisco, CA) for center-involving diabetic macular edema (DME).

Design: Phase 2, prospective, multicenter, randomized, single-masked clinical trial (clinicaltrials.

Clinical development of new treatments for diabetic macular oedema.

The benchmark treatment for diabetic macular oedema, the major cause of visual impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus, has traditionally been laser photocoagulation; however, as laser treatment does not always improve vision or even prevent further loss in many cases, several new pharmacotherapies that are injected into the vitreous for diabetic macular oedema have been successfully trialled over the past decade. Others are currently being evaluated. The two major classes of these drugs are steroids and vascular endothelial growth factor antagonists.