The Effect of Ranibizumab Loading Treatment on Vision-Related Quality of Life in Diabetic Macular Edema †

Aims: To investigate the changes in vision-related quality of life after a loading dose of three consecutive intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injections in patients with unilateral diabetic macular edema (DME). Materials and Methods: Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients who received IVR injections in only one eye with DME were included in our study. The following characteristics of the patients were recorded: gender, education status, marital status, work status, presence of chronic disease. The changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were evaluated at baseline (before treatment) and 1 month after the third intravitreal injection (after treatment). Patients were administered the Turkish form of the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Functions Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25 TR). The quality of life scores assessed by the NEI VFQ-25 TR, the BCVA, intraocular pressure (IOP), and CMT measurements were compared at baseline (before treatment) and 1 month after the third intravitreal injection (after treatment). Results: We enrolled 52 patients (25 females, 27 males) in our study; mean age was 64.35 ± 9.26 years. After treatment, BCVA improved significantly (p = 0.001), and macular thickness decreased significantly (p < 0.001). All NEI VFQ-25 TR subscale scores were significantly higher after treatment (p < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between the change in BCVA and CMT and the change in NEI VFQ-25 TR subscale and composite scores. The increase in near activities scores was significantly higher in males (p = 0.020) and in the retired group (p = 0.022). There were no significant differences in the changes in NEI VFQ-25 TR subscale and composite scores in relation to educational status. Discussion: Significant improvements in BCVA, macular edema, and vision-related quality of life were found in DME patients who received IVR injections with a loading dose, as shown by the NEI VFQ-25 TR. Interestingly, a significant improvement in quality of life was observed even though the patients could see well with the fellow eye. In conclusion, the NEI VFQ-25 TR is a useful scale to evaluate the changes in visual function and psychosocial characteristics of DME patients after treatment.