Outcomes of Eyes Lost to Follow-Up with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy that received Panretinal Photocoagulation vs Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

Seventy-six eyes of 59 patients were included in the study of which 30 received IVI with anti-VEGF, and 46 received PRP. In the eyes that received intravitreal anti-VEGF, mean logMAR VA significantly worsened when comparing the visit before LTFU (0.43 [±0.38], Snellen 20/54) to the return visit (0.97 [±0.80], Snellen 20/187, p=0.001) as well as the final visit (0.92 [±0.94], Snellen 20/166, p=0.01). In eyes that received PRP, mean logMAR VA significantly worsened when comparing the visit before LTFU (0.42 [±0.34], Snellen 20/53) to the return visit (0.62 [±0.64], Snellen 20/83, p=0.03). However, no significant difference was observed at the final visit (0.46 [±0.47] Snellen 20/58, p=0.38). There was a significantly greater number of eyes with tractional retinal detachment in the IVI group compared to the PRP group at the return visit (5 vs 0, p=0.008) and the final visit (10 vs 1, p=0.005). There was a significantly greater incidence of neovascularization of the iris in the IVI arm compared to the PRP arm at the final visit (4 vs 0, p=0.02) CONCLUSION: Eyes with PDR that received only intravitreal anti-VEGF demonstrated worse anatomic and functional outcomes after LTFU compared to eyes that received PRP. Given the potential sequelae of LTFU, the choice of treatment for PDR must be carefully considered.