INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB (AVASTIN) INJECTION ALONE OR COMBINED WITH TRIAMCINOLONE VERSUS MACULAR PHOTOCOAGULATION AS PRIMARY TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

Up to 12 weeks, intravitreal bevacizumab treatment of patients with DME yielded better visual outcome than laser photocoagulation, although it was not associated with a significant decrease in CMT. No further beneficial effect of intravitreal triamcinolone could be demonstrated. Further clinical trials with longer follow-up are required to evaluate the long-term visual outcomes and complication profiles after primary treatment with such medications.