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.