Comparision of central retinal layer thickness in patients with PDR treated with intravitreal ranibizumab vs ranibizumab plus PRP

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the primary cause of blindness in the working population worldwide and is a common consequence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). One significant risk factor for serious vision loss in individuals with diabetes mellitus is retinal neovascularization (NV). Since the 1980s, retinal photocoagulation (PRP) has been the gold standard for treating diabetic retinopathy (DR) because it increases the availability of oxygen to the retina and reduces the subsequent release of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), which prevents the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Intravitreal anti VEGF therapy show combine anti-angiogenic and anti-edematous properties and significantly altered the course of DR. The purpose of this study is to assess the central retinal thickness (CRT) of eyes from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) receiving intravitreal ranibizumab versus ranibizumab with pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). : Thirty patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were split into two groups for this prospective randomized control trial. Fifteen eyes in Group A received intravitreal ranibizumab, while fifteen eyes in Group B received intravitreal ranibizumab plus panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). The study was carried out over a six-month period. Using paired T tests and analysis of variance, visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. : Best corrected visual acuity and Central Retinal thickness show a significant difference statistically (p value <0.05) between the two groups. Group A had a baseline visual acuity of 0.85 ± 0.10 compared to Group B 0.98 ± 0.14 with p value 0.007. By week 8, Group A showed a visual acuity of 0.34 ± 0.07 versus 0.26 ± 0.07 in Group B with p value 0.0012. Additionally, Group A's baseline CRT was 258.33 ± 20.33 µm compared to Group B's 267.40 ± 29.40 µm (p = 0.00002), and by week 8, it measured 217.26 ± 10.49 µm versus 228.00 ± 15.69 µm (p = 0.032). Compared to intravitreal ranibizumab alone, the combination of pan retinal photocoagulation with intravitreal ranibizumab is a more successful treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Central retinal thickness, macular edema, and neovascularization are reduced more significantly with combination therapy, potentially reducing the need for injections.