Clinical Observation of Phacoemulsification Combined with Intravitreal Injection of Conbercept in Cataract Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema

AIM: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification surgery combined with intravitreal injection of conbercept in cataract patients with DME. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical cohort study. Thirty-five cataract patients (49 eyes) with DME were divided into two groups. The observation group (23 eyes) underwent a cataract phacoemulsification surgery combined with intravitreal injection of conbercept 0.5 mg; the control group (26 eyes) underwent a cataract phacoemulsification surgery only. The visual acuity, central macular thickness (CMT), IOP, and anterior chamber flare were examined before surgery and 1 week and one month after surgery. RESULTS: The UCVA and BCVA in Log MAR in the observation group were lower than those in the control group at 1 week (p=0.032; p=0.041) and 1 month (p=0.035; p=0.039), respectively, after the surgery. The CMT of the observation group changed from 492.7 ± 32.2 μm before surgery to 341.6 ± 59.9 μm one week after surgery and 374.8 ± 48.3 μm one month after surgery. The CMT of control group increased after surgery. There was no significant difference in IOP and flare between the two groups at all following times. CONCLUSION: In patients with DME, undergoing a cataract surgery combined with intravitreal injection of conbercept is safe and effective for visual improvement and CMT declination with relatively fewer IOP and flare fluctuation.