Early intervention with intravitreal anti-VEGF maximized benefit by improving function and anatomy in DME, and a significant proportion of patients of working age returned to work, reducing days of disability and improving quality of life.
Key Findings
Results
Functional success (visual acuity ≥ 0.5) was achieved in 70% of mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy cases and 25% of proliferative/severe cases following anti-VEGF treatment.
45 patients total were included in the study (26 women, 19 men)
Mean age was 57.4 ± 5.0 years with T2DM duration of 16 [12-20] years
Visual acuity threshold of ≥ 0.5 was used as the definition of functional success
Results
Mean gain in decimal visual acuity after treatment was +0.127 for the right eye and +0.090 for the left eye.
The study was observational with descriptive analysis
Post-intervention comparison was performed using the chi-square test
Gains were measured in decimal visual acuity units
Both eyes showed positive mean gains following intravitreal anti-VEGF loading doses
Results
One third of patients (33.3%) achieved visual acuity ≥ 0.5 after loading doses, a functional level compatible with reading and precision tasks.
This threshold of VA ≥ 0.5 was identified as compatible with work activities requiring reading and precision tasks
Achievement of this level is relevant to work reintegration outcomes
Loading doses refer to the initial series of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections
This proportion represents patients reaching a functionally meaningful visual recovery milestone
Results
An inverse correlation was observed between central macular thickness and final visual acuity.
Greater central macular thickness was associated with worse final visual acuity
This anatomical measure (central macular thickness) served as a predictor of functional outcome
The finding supports the use of early intervention before significant macular thickening occurs
No specific correlation coefficient values were reported in the abstract
Results
A significant proportion of working-age patients with DME returned to work after intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment, reducing days of disability.
The study's primary aim was to estimate the proportion of patients with DME who return to work and the time required after treatment
DME is described as the leading cause of blindness in the economically active population aged 18 to 64
The study was planned based on literature and local data with an expected response rate ≥ 60%
Work reintegration was associated with improved quality of life
Discussion
Early intervention with intravitreal anti-VEGF maximized functional and anatomical benefit in diabetic macular edema.
Intravitreal anti-angiogenic (anti-VEGF) therapy is described as the first-line treatment for DME
Early intervention was associated with better visual acuity outcomes, particularly in mild non-proliferative cases
Both functional (visual acuity) and anatomical (macular thickness) improvements were observed
The study population had a long duration of T2DM (median 16 years, IQR 12-20 years), highlighting the importance of timely ophthalmologic intervention
What This Means
This research suggests that treating diabetic macular edema (a swelling of the central part of the retina caused by diabetes) with injections of anti-VEGF medication directly into the eye can help restore enough vision for patients to return to their jobs. In a group of 45 Mexican patients of working age with diabetes-related eye disease, about one-third regained vision good enough to perform tasks like reading and precision work after their initial course of injections. Patients with earlier-stage disease fared much better — 70% of those with mild disease reached this functional vision level, compared to only 25% of those with more advanced disease.
The study also found that thicker swelling in the central part of the retina was linked to worse final vision, suggesting that catching and treating the condition before it progresses leads to better outcomes. This supports the importance of regular eye screenings for people with type 2 diabetes, since earlier treatment appears to preserve more vision and function.
This research matters because diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults (18–64 years old), creating not only personal hardship but also significant medical and social costs. By demonstrating that a meaningful proportion of patients can return to work after treatment — reducing disability days and improving quality of life — the findings highlight the economic and social value of timely access to intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for people with diabetes-related eye disease.
Peña-Durán S, Trujillo-Sánchez G, López-Montero L. (2026). [Work reintegration in patients treated for diabetic macular edema].. Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21462625