Early combined conbercept and dexamethasone implant therapy for diabetic macular edema.

AIM: This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and safety of a combined dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) with Conbercept injections for diabetic macular edema (DME).

METHODS: A prospective case-control clinical trial was conducted on 46 DME patients. Patients were randomly assigned to either the combination group, receiving Conbercept injections followed by Ozurdex (24 patients) using a 2 + 1 + 1 + PRN protocol, or the monotherapy group, receiving only Conbercept injections (22 patients) following a 5 + PRN protocol. Monthly evaluations were performed at six and twelve months to compare best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), injection frequency, and safety outcomes such as endophthalmitis, cataract development, retinal detachment, and intraocular pressure elevation.

RESULTS: Results showed that the combination group's 12-month BCVA improvement rate was 97.05%, significantly higher than the monotherapy group's 76.47% (P < 0.05). Both groups' BCVA and CMT significantly improved from baseline at six and twelve months (P < 0.05). CMT differences were significant (P < 0.05). The combination group received an average of 5.29 injections, compared to 8.15 in the monotherapy group. In terms of safety, 17.6% of eyes in the combination group had intraocular pressures ≥ 25 mmHg, managed with observation or topical therapy. At 12 months, 17.6% and 29.4% of eyes in the two groups underwent cataract surgery, respectively, with no cases of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment.

CONCLUSION: Early combined therapy with dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) and Conbercept injections offers significant clinical benefits for the treatment of DME during the initial three months of treatment.