Intraocular Anti-VEGF Compared With Intraocular Triamcinolone in Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema

The intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin®) is performed in the operating room under sterile conditions. The patient receives an initial drop of lidocaine 4% into the study eye followed by betaisodona solution. Then the lid margins, the lids and the periocular skin are washed carefully with betaisodona. The eye is draped in a sterile fashion. A sterile lid speculum is inserted by the surgeon. Another drop of betaisodona is applied into the eye. A circle is used to mark the injection site 3.5mm from the limbus in the inferior temporal quadrant. The injection is given at the marked site, slowly, at a 90 degree angle. After injecting the total volume of 0.1ml the needle is slowly withdrawn. Another drop of betaisodona is given as well as an antibiotic/steroid ointment.

The intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (Volon A®) is performed in the operating room under sterile conditions at baseline. The patient receives an initial drop of lidocaine 4% into the study eye followed by betaisodona solution. Then the lid margins, the lids and the periocular skin are washed carefully with betaisodona. The eye is draped in a sterile fashion. A sterile lid speculum is inserted by the surgeon. Another drop of betaisodona is applied into the eye. A circle is used to mark the injection site 3.5mm from the limbus in the inferior temporal quadrant. The injection is given at the marked site, slowly, at a 90 degree angle. After injecting the total volume of 0.1ml the needle is slowly withdrawn. Another drop of betaisodona is given as well as an antibiotic/steroid ointment.

Patients receiving sham intravitreal injections do not receive an actual injection of study drug. The injecting physician performing the sham injection will be unmasked to the treatment to the treatment assignment regarding active versus sham. The injecting physician will perform the same pre-injection procedures for the patients receiving bevacizumab or triamcinolone, An empty syringe without a needle will be used in the sham injection. The injecting physician will mimic an intraocular injection by making contact with the conjunctiva and applying pressure without the needle. Immediately following the sham injection, the injecting physician will perform the same post-injection procedures as those performed on patients receiving bevacizumab or triamcinolone.

The intravitreal injection of Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is performed in the operating room under sterile conditions. The patient receives an initial drop of lidocaine 4% into the study eye followed by betaisodona solution. Then the lid margins, the lids and the periocular skin are washed carefully with betaisodona. The eye is draped in a sterile fashion. A sterile lid speculum is inserted by the surgeon. Another drop of betaisodona is applied into the eye. A circle is used to mark the injection site 3.5mm from the limbus in the inferior temporal quadrant. The injection is given at the marked site, slowly, at a 90 degree angle. After injecting the total volume of 0.05ml the needle is slowly withdrawn. Another drop of betaisodona is given as well as an antibiotic/steroid ointment.