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ObjectivesTo compare short-term effect of intravitreal ranibizumab with dexamethasone implant for diabetic macular edema (DME) in vitrectomized eyes.MethodsSingle-center, prospective, randomized study of vitrectomized eyes with DME. Study eyes were divided into two groups, receiving ranibizumab (IVV group, n = 35 eyes) or dexamethasone implant (IVD group, n = 35 eyes) respectively. Patients were evaluated at baseline, Week 1 and Month 1. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and intraocular pressure (IOP).ResultsBCVA and CRT were similar in the two groups at baseline. At Week 1, the CRT improvement was significant in two groups (P = 0.041 in IVV group, P = 0.030 in IVD group), but at Month 1, only IVD group had significant improvement in CRT (P < 0.001). And BCVA gains were significant at Week 1 (P = 0.029) and Month 1 (P = 0.001) in IVD group, whereas IVV group did not show significant BCVA gains (P = 0.056 at Week1, P = 0.166 at Month 1). The changes of BCVA and CRT were significantly higher in IVD group than IVV group at Month1, but the changes were not significant at Week1.ConclusionsComparing to anti-VEGF therapy, DEX implant is more effect in improving BCVA and reducing CRT in vitrectomized eyes at 1 month, which indicated DEX implant is a better strategy.

Objectives: To compare the aqueous concentrations of inflammatory and angiogenetic factors in vitrectomized vs. non-vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods: Aqueous samples were obtained from 107 eyes with DME before intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF, 36 eyes with previous pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with pan-retinal endolaser photocoagulation (PRP), and 71 treatment-naïve. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, interferon-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by cytometric bead array (CBA). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used for measuring central retinal thickness (CRT).Results: IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1 in aqueous humor of DME vitrectomized eyes were significantly higher than in non-vitrectomized DME eyes, while VEGF was lower than in non-vitrectomized DME eyes. VEGF in aqueous humor significantly correlated with CRT for DME in non-vitrectomized DME eyes. IL-6, IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1 in aqueous humor were not significantly associated with VEGF for DME in vitrectomized eyes.Conclusions: Inflammation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of DME in vitrectomized eyes. Moreover, inflammation might play a central role in the development of DME via the VEGF-independent pathway. Thus, anti-inflammatory therapy might be a strategy for DME in vitrectomized eyes.