Prophylactic Intravitreal Bevacizumab before Cataract Surgery in Diabetics: Effect on Postoperative Macular Thickness

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v42i4.2475

Abstract

Purpose:  To assess whether preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab reduces central macular thickness after phacoemulsification in patients with diabetes.

Study Design:  Quasi Experimental Study.

Place and Duration of study:  Department of Ophthalmology, Gujranwala Medical College from March 2023 toSeptember 2023.

Methods:  Ninety diabetic patients aged 30–55 years scheduled for phacoemulsification were enrolled in this study. Participants were assigned 1:1 to receive 1.25mg/0.1ml intravitreal bevacizumab one week before phacoemulsification or to undergo phacoemulsification without injection. Patients having complicated cataracts and any stage of diabetic retinopathy including clinically significant macular edema were excluded. Spectral-domain OCT measured central macular thickness at baseline and 30 days postoperatively. Analysis used SPSS v25. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results:  Study included 19 males and 71 females. Baseline thickness did not differ between groups. On day 30, mean thickness was 254.98 ± 8.12 µm in the bevacizumab group versus 279.27 ± 7.22 µm in the control group,
p < 0.0001. The difference remained significant across age, sex, and comorbidity subgroups.

Conclusion:  Preoperative bevacizumab significantly limited postoperative macular thickening in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery.