According to recently published data, anti-VEGF therapy is superior to laser photocoagulation for the treatment of moderate-to-severe visual impairment caused by diabetic macular oedema (DME).

The study, performed by Dr Tian Yin Wong 

 (Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, National University of Singapore, Singapore), was a perspective review of literature on DME treatment modalities. This review included studies published between January 1985 and July 2013.

In this review, the authors found that although laser photocoagulation has been the mainstay treatment for DME for nearly 30 years, more recently there has been increasing evidence demonstrating superior results with anti-VEGF therapy. Also, from large phase II and III trials for ranibizumab, the authors found that visual improvement and safety profiles were favourable towards the anti-VEGF therapy over laser photocoagulation for up to 3 years. Patients were also more likely to experience visual loss with laser treatment.

There were limited studies for other anti-VEGF therapies, such as bevacizumab and aflibercept in DME, however, even in these limited cases the results favoured the anti-VEGF therapeutic option.

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