Is Laser Photocoagulation Treatment Currently Useful in Diabetic Macular Edema?

Diabetic macular edema treatments have changed in recent years after the introduction of intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (ranibizumab, bevacizumab, pegaptanib and the most-recent introduction of aflibercept), corticoids (triamcinolone or dexamethasone), and the sustained delivery fluocinolone acetonide vitreous inserts. All these new drugs are becoming more popular as the first line of treatments worldwide, but this also makes treatment more expensive. A combination of laser photocoagulation (LP) and intravitreal drugs is being investigated to find out whether such treatment might be just as effective and reduce costs, since LP alone seems to have lost popularity.