Objective: This study aimed to compare the short-term efficacy of dexamethasone (Dex) implant with those of three consecutive ranibizumab (Rzb) injections in the treatment-naive diabetic macular edema patients.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 30 eyes of 30 diabetic macular edema (DME) patients were enrolled in the intravitreal Rzb (IVR) group; 29 eyes of 29 patients were enrolled in the Dex implant (DI) group. The IVR group was treated with three consecutive monthly Rzb injections; the DI group was injected one single DI. Both groups underwent ophthalmological examinations and optical coherence tomography exams at baseline and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd month visits. Data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0, statistically.

Results: Mean age, duration of diabetes, baseline best-corrected visual acuity, and central macular thickness (CMT) of both arms were statistically indifferent. The intraocular pressure (IOP) changes were within and between groups insignificant. The comparison of visual gain at the final visit showed no difference (p>0.05). The final CMT reduction in both groups was statistically insignificant (145 µm vs 110.5 µm p>0.05). In the DI group, two eyes (7%) had to be treated with topical anti-glaucomatous agents in the follow-up.

Conclusion: Both monthly Rzb injections and DI are equally effective in the initial treatment of DME. Although the treatment effect of the DI was seen earlier in the follow-up, the IOP elevations may be a clinical concern in some cases.