Current Treatments and Innovations in Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema
Jesus H. Gonzalez-Cortes,
Victor A. Martinez-Pacheco,
Jesus E. Gonzalez-Cantu,
Alper Bilgic,
Francesc March de Ribot,
Aditya Sudhalkar,
Jesus Mohamed-Hamsho,
Laurent Kodjikian,
Thibaud Mathis
Affiliations
Jesus H. Gonzalez-Cortes
Ophthalmology Department, School of Medicine, University Hospital “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico
Victor A. Martinez-Pacheco
Retina and Vitreous Department, Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Luz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 06030, Mexico
Jesus E. Gonzalez-Cantu
Ophthalmology Department, Instituto Avalos, University Galileo, Guatemala City 01010, Guatemala
Department of Ophthalmology, Otago University, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Aditya Sudhalkar
MS Sudhalkar Medical Research Foundation, Baroda 390001, India
Jesus Mohamed-Hamsho
Ophthalmology Department, School of Medicine, University Hospital “Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 64460, Mexico
Laurent Kodjikian
Service d’Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69004 Lyon, France
Thibaud Mathis
Service d’Ophtalmologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de la Croix-Rousse, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69004 Lyon, France
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Multiple treatment options have been used over time to attempt to modify the natural progression of the disease in both proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). These two retinal complications are the result of microvascular occlusions and vascular hyperpermeability and are considered one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in patients of working age. It is now well demonstrated that PDR and DME are associated with increased levels of inflammatory and pro-angiogenic factors in the ocular compartment. To date, laser photocoagulation, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, and corticosteroids have demonstrated efficacy in their treatment in large randomized controlled trials and in real-life observational studies. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive review of current treatments, including the main drugs used in diabetic pathologic manifestations, as well as new therapeutic alternatives, such as extended-release intraocular devices.
