Characteristics of diabetic macular edema on optical coherence tomography may change over time or after treatment

PURPOSE: To investigate optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics in diabetic macular edema (DME) over time and after treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: OCT morphological features in DME eyes treated with ranibizumab with at least 1 year of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes were included. From baseline to Month 12, mean visual gain was 7.2±13.6 letters and mean central retinal thickness reduction was 61.9±121.8 μm. Fovea-involving ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption was significantly associated with final vision of <70 letters. Subretinal fluid at baseline was present only in eyes naïve to previous intravitreal pharmacotherapy and was related to better visual gain and fewer injections. Treatment-naïve eyes had shorter DME duration and less EZ damage. CONCLUSION: DME characteristics on OCT may change over time or after treatment. Subretinal fluid may be associated with earlier change and less EZ damage in DME.