Effectiveness of suprachoroidal injection in diabetic macular edema

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of suprachoroidal injection in diabetic macular edema

Methodology: The study design was observational study conducted at LIONS Medical Complex, Gulberg from May 2024 to April 2025. This observational study was conducted at LIONS Medical Complex, Gulberg Lahore over a period of six months following synopsis approval. A total of 46 diabetic patients above 30 years of age with a history of diabetes for more than two years and macular thickness over 280 µm were included through non-probability convenient sampling. After obtaining informed consent, baseline OCT and visual assessments were performed, followed by a suprachoroidal injection. After 21 days, follow-up OCT and visual function assessments were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with Mann-Whitney U test applied due to non-normal distribution; significance was set at P<0.05.

Results: The study included 46 participants, with a mean age of 58.07 ± 10.62 years and a nearly equal gender distribution (52.2% females, 47.8% males). The Shapiro-Wilk test confirmed non-normal data distribution (p<0.05 for all variables). The Mann-Whitney U test revealed statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and macular thickness after suprachoroidal injection (p=0.00 for all). These findings indicate a notable therapeutic effect of the treatment in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Conclusion: This study provides strong evidence that suprachoroidal injections significantly improve visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and macular thickness, supporting their potential as an effective treatment for diabetic macular edema.