Retrobulbar injection of methylprednisolone in diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Abstract

To study some aspects of locally and extraocularly administered methylprednisolone on diffuse diabetic macular edema. The investigation included 13 eyes of 13 diabetic subjects. One eye received treatment, and the other eye served as control. Standardized visual acuity as well as the presence of clinically significant macular edema was recorded before and several times after retrobulbar injection of methylprednisolone. The follow-up period was at least 6 months. One month after retrobulbar injection of methylprednisolone, visual acuity increased significantly (before, 0.19; after, 0.30). Visual acuity was also significantly increased 3 and 6 months after this treatment (before, 0.19; 3 months after, 0.26; 6 months after, 0.28). The proportion of eyes with diffuse clinically significant macular edema was gradually reduced from 100% before treatment to 15% 6 months after treatment. Retrobulbar injection of methylprednisolone increased visual acuity significantly in diabetic subjects with diffuse macular edema. A significant reduction in the number of eyes with clinically significant macular edema was also observed.