Comparison of outcomes of four different treatment modalities for diabetic vitreous haemorrhage

We compared outcomes of four different management modalities for diabetic VH. Patients with diabetic VH were identified in this retrospective study undertaken at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eyes were grouped based on the treatment received: control (observation only), intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection(s), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and preoperative single IVB injection before PPV. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and status of VH were noted at baseline and the last follow up (Minimum: 6 months, maximum: 29 months). The proportion of eyes with Snellen BCVA improvement by two lines or more and VH clearance at the last follow up were compared between groups. The four groups – Control, IVB, PPV, and IVB-before-PPV had 23, 29, 17, and 20 eyes, respectively. The proportion of eyes gaining ≥2 lines was substantially higher in the IVB-before-PPV and PPV groups (90% and 77%, respectively) compared with IVB and observation groups (41% and 22%, respectively). Surgical treatment was associated with a 2.38 times higher likelihood of gaining ≥2 lines than the non-surgical one (incidence ratio: 2.38, 95% CI 1.19, 4.78 P = 0.015) after adjusting for age, hyperglycemia and BCVA at presentation. Less invasive treatment such as IVB injections did not result in the same amount of improvement in vision as did PPV. Prospective randomized studies are needed to better define the role of IVB injections in the management of diabetic VH.