Functional and Anatomical Outcomes in Patients With Serous Retinal Detachment in Diabetic Macular Edema Treated With Ranibizumab.

Purpose: To assess the effect of serous retinal detachment (SRD) on functional and anatomical outcomes in ranibizumab-treated patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: All consecutive ranibizumab-treated patients with SRD were included in this retrospective study. For each patient with SRD, a patient without SRD with the same baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was randomly included for adjustment on their baseline BCVA. All patients with SRD were included in group 1 (G1) and those without SRD in G2. The primary endpoint was the mean change in BCVA between baseline and month 12 (M12). Secondary endpoints were the mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) between baseline and M12, injection number, and proportion of patients who gained/lost ≥15 letters.

Results: Seventy-eight eyes were included, 39 in each group. Baseline BCVA was similar in both groups (45.2 and 45.3 letters). Mean change in BCVA between baseline and M12 was not statistically different: 11 ± 12 letters in G1 and 12 ± 13 letters in G2 (P = 0.78). Baseline CRT was 650 ± 130 μm in G1 and 480 ± 79 μm in G2. Mean change in CRT was -235 ± 170 μm in G1 and -130 ± 96 μm in G2 (P = 0.013). Patients received 5.2 and 5.5 injections in G1 and G2 (P = 0.46). In group 1, 38.5% and 2.6% of patients respectively gained and lost ≥15 letters versus 41% (P = 0.1) and 5.1% (P = 0.1) in G2.

Conclusions: Similar BCVA gains were observed regardless of the presence of SRD. The higher visual gain usually observed in DME with SRD could be associated with a lower baseline BCVA.