Diabetic retinopathy clinical research retina network protocols in the management of diabetic macular edema

Abstract

The Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR) retina network was formed in 2002 through a United States National Eye Institute and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases-sponsored cooperative agreement with the objective of creating a collaborative network for multicenter clinical trials focusing on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its associated complications. The DRCR Retina Network has initiated and completed 30 multicenter studies in over 350 clinical sites. The goals of the DRCR was to design, implement, and report clinical studies that would answer important questions related to clinical practice and management of DR as well as DME. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the leading cause of vision loss in the working age population and until the turn of the century the treatment options were limited to macular laser. This review aims to summarize the major DME studies completed by the DRCR The current review covers the major clinical trials that have helped help establish the current standard of care in the management of DME including protocols A, B, I, T, U and V.