Evaluation of the Quality of Visual Function and Life of Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema with Vitrectomized and Non-Vitrectomized Eyes on Steroid Therapy

Objectives: to evaluate the dynamics of changes in quality of life in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) with vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized eyes after intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant (IVD). Material and methods. 60 patients (60 eyes) were examined, divided into two groups with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, DME and with different vitreous conditions. Group 1 — patients with non-vitrectomized eyes, group 2 — with vitrectomized eyes. Both objective and subjective methods of ophthalmological examination were used, followed by an assessment of the quality of life and visual functions based on the results of a questionnaire conducted to patients using VFQ-25 (visual function questionnaire — 25). Also, all patients of both groups were assessed for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before, 1, 3 and 6 months after IVD. Results. In both groups, an increase in the average BCVA after IVD was observed up to 3 months of monitoring (p < 0.01). In addition, the quality of life parameters increased after 1 month of steroid therapy in both groups (p < 0.05), and by 3 and 6 months this trend persisted mainly only for the group with vitrectomized eyes (p < 0.05). Conclusion. IVD in patients with DME can significantly improve the morphofunctional parameters of the macular zone in the eyes with both vitrectomized and non-vitrectomized eyes. The maximum effect of the drug according to the quality of visual functions assessment was observed in 1 month of monitoring in the group with non-vitrectomized eyes. At the same time, the longest increase in quality of visual functions parameters from 3 to 6 months was observed in the group with vitrectomized eyes.

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