Background: Pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) was the standard treatment for reducing severe visual loss from proliferative diabetic retinopathy. PRP may damage the retina, resulting in peripheral vision loss or worsening diabetic macular edema (DME). Anti-VEGF was associated with superior visual acuity outcomes and fewer PDR-related complications. Aim: Pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) and intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF (Ranibizumab) were compared for their effectiveness in treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Patient and Methods: In this study, twenty eyes from twenty PDR sufferers were split into two groups. Ten cases in Group 1 received three intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF (Ranibizumab), and ten patients in Group 2 received pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) from the Al-Zahraa University Hospital outpatient clinic. Result: Based on how medication affected visual acuity, we found that cases receiving anti-VEGF had a significantly higher best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA), with post-treatment BCDVA averaging 0.36±0.05 compared to the preoperative BCDVA of 0.25±0.07 (P ≤ 0.0008). On the other hand, in the Group treated by PRP, the BCDVA wasn't significantly improved (P>0.05), with post-treatment BCDVA averaging 0.29±0.17 compared to the preoperative BCDVA of 0.25±0.10. As regards the effect of treatment on neo-vessel regression, We observed substantial regression of new vessels in intravitreal anti-VEGF and PRP (60% and 70%, respectively) with minimal progression (20% and 10%, respectively), more prominently in the anti-VEGF Group, with a stationary course (20% and 20%, respectively). Conclusion: According to our research, anti-VEGF was linked to better visual acuity results and fewer problems from PDR. Additionally, it demonstrates that pan-retinal photocoagulation was not inferior to Ranibizumab in the treatment of PDR.
Shalaby et al. (Sat,) studied this question.