THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF SUBRETINAL BALANCED SALT SOLUTION INJECTION IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA WITH HARD EXUDATES.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subretinal balanced salt solution injection for diabetic macular edema patients with hard exudates (HEs) using a 40-gauge curved needle.

METHODS

Patients with diabetic macular edema with HEs were randomized to injection group (subretinal balanced salt solution injection combined with pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling, n = 28) or control group (pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling, n = 28). Changes in best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, HEs, foveal avascular zone, and mean macular thickness were compared. Patient demographics, laboratory results, and surgical complications were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were similar ( P > 0.05). In the injection group, compared with the preoperative indicators, the postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (Snellen) improved from 20/426 ± 20/98 to 20/163 ± 20/59, central macular thickness decreased from 453.32 ± 125.90 µ m to 305.14 ± 119.23 µ m, HEs area decreased from 3.00 ± 1.68 mm 2 to 1.50 ± 1.24 mm 2 , foveal avascular zone area decreased from 0.41 ± 0.11 mm 2 to 0.32 ± 0.11 mm 2 , and mean macular thickness decreased from 411.77 ± 64.52 µ m to 322.96 ± 52.62 µ m ( P < 0.001, respectively). Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, HEs area, foveal avascular zone, and mean macular thickness in the injection group were different from those in the control group ( P < 0.05). Postoperative complications did not differ ( P > 0.05). The mean follow-up duration was 7.13 ± 2.02 months.

CONCLUSION

Subretinal balanced salt solution injection with a 40-gauge curved needle is safe and effective for diabetic macular edema with HEs, improving macular structure and vision.