Evaluation of macular and peripheral retinochoroidal volume changes in diabetic macular edema following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy

In this retrospective observational study, we evaluated the effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy on macular and peripheral retinochoroidal volumes in 19 eyes of 19 treatment-naïve patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) who received intravitreal faricimab or brolucizumab. Retinal and choroidal volumes in macular and peripheral regions were measured using the swept-source optical coherence tomography (Xephilio OCT-S1; Canon, Tokyo, Japan) before and 1 month after injection. The macular retinal volume was significantly higher for patients with DME than for the controls (19 age-matched healthy individuals without diabetes or retinal disease) at baseline. The peripheral retinal volume was also significantly larger for patients with DME than for the controls. In contrast, the choroidal volume (macular and peripheral) did not differ significantly between the control and DME groups. Both macular and peripheral retinal volumes significantly decreased at 1 month after anti-VEGF therapy. No significant changes were found in the choroidal volume. In conclusion, anti-VEGF therapy significantly reduced both macular and peripheral retinal volumes. The findings suggest that anti-VEGF agents, such as faricimab and brolucizumab, have a widespread effect on retinal volume.