Abstract
Diabetic macular edema (DME), an ocular complication of diabetes mellitus, can potentially lead to devastating visual outcomes. Traditionally, laser photocoagulation has been the gold standard in the management of this condition. Over the recent years, however, several landmark clinical trials have shown beneficial effects of anti-VEGF agents over both sham injections and laser photocoagulation. These results have led to the wide adoption of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in DME treatment. Currently, two anti-VEGF agents, ranibizumab and aflibercept, are FDA approved in the United States for the management of DME. Recently, the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network released its protocol T results showing that compared to bevacizumab and ranibizumab, aflibercept yielded significantly better outcomes in patients with visual acuity (VA) of 20/50 or worse at baseline. Among patients with baseline VA better than 20/50, however, all three anti-VEGF drugs had comparable results.