A Randomized Trial to Assess Functional and Structural Effects of Ranibizumab versus Laser in Diabetic Macular Edema (the LUCIDATE Study)

Peripheral retinal function assessed with 30-Hz flicker seems to improve after treatment with Lucentis in patients with diabetic macular oedema

“…They found significant improvement in the implicit time of the cone flicker response at 6-month follow-up. Others have found no evidence of changes in cone system function over 48 weeks with ranibizumab injections in diabetic patients [19]. Some studies have shown less progression of diabetic retinopathy after injections with ranibizumab, and it is possible that the reduced 30-Hz implicit time at follow-up in the present study may indicate that ranibizumab has no negative effect on the entire peripheral cone function, but can improve it instead [20].…”

Functional outcome of macular edema in different retinal disorders

“…These changes were not noted in patients treated with laser photocoagulation, who had improvement in retinal thickness but far less gain of both visual acuity and retinal contrast sensitivity (Comyn et al, 2014). This suggests that retinal contrast sensitivity testing could provide additional support for early treatment decisions in diabetic patients, before the retinal damage manifests in visual acuity change, as well as for follow-up and determining treatment response.…”

“…Additionally, intraocular steroids in the form intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetate or slow release devices (Dexamethasone implant e Ozurdex ® , fluocinolone acetonide implant e Retisert ® and fluocinolone acetonide e Iluvien ® ) address the inflammatory component of the process and have also proved beneficial (Boyer et al, 2014;Pearson et al, 2011;Schwartz et al, 2014). The use of anti-VEGF injections and steroidal implants for the treatment of macular edema results in stabilization of visual acuity, achieving a more favorable outcome than laser treatment (Boyer et al, 2014;Brown et al, 2013;Callanan et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2014;Comyn et al, 2014;Liu et al, 2014;Regnier et al, 2014). These have become the leading approach to treating patients with DME, resulting in stabilization or even improvement of their visual function, with few ocular or systemic side effects.…”

Management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: current state-of-the-art care for optimizing visual outcomes and therapies in development

“…In the Lucentis (Ranibizumab) in Diabetic Macular Edema: a Treatment Evaluation (LUCIDATE) study, visual function was assessed using microperimetry 34. Retinal microstructural changes correlate well with retinal function, as assessed by microperimetry in patients with AMD 35.…”