In addition to panretinal photocoagulation, which therapy may be used to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

• A. Systemic steroids
• B. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections
• C. Oral antibiotics
• D. Laser capsulotomy

Answer: (B)

In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, abnormal new vessels grow in response to retinal ischemia driven by VEGF. Panretinal photocoagulation helps by destroying peripheral retina, reducing ischemic drive, and lowering VEGF production to limit neovascularization. A therapy that can be used in addition to PRP is intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. These injections directly neutralize VEGF inside the eye, causing rapid regression of neovascularization and often improving or stabilizing macular edema. They’re especially helpful when there’s vitreous hemorrhage, poor visualization, or macular involvement where laser alone may be insufficient. The other options don’t address the neovascular process in this condition: systemic steroids aren’t standard for PDR, oral antibiotics have no role, and laser capsulotomy treats a cataract-related capsule opacity, not the retinal neovascularization.