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Home › Conditions › Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy

Part of Diabetic Macular Edema

27 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Diabetic Retinopathy

47 trials tracked for Diabetic Retinopathy: 13 in phase 3 or 4 and 5 with published results. The most-cited published study has 141 citations.

47Trials tracked
13Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
5With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 4 Phase 3 9 Phase 2 14 Phase 1 2 Other / NA 18
  1. Phase 3 Anti-VEGF Treatment for Prevention of PDR/DME Completed · 141 cited
  2. Phase 4 Lowering Events in Non-proliferative Retinopathy in Scotland Completed · 94 cited
  3. Phase 3 Reduction in the Occurrence of Center-Involved Diabetic Macular Edema Completed · 63 cited
  4. Phase 4 Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema With Aflibercept in Subjects Previously Treated With Ranibizumab or Bevacizumab Completed · 21 cited
  5. Phase 3 A Multicenter, Randomized Study in Participants With Diabetic Retinopathy Without Center-involved Diabetic Macular Edema To Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Ranibizumab Delivered Via the Port Delivery System Relative to the Comparator Arm Completed · 21 cited
  6. Phase 4 Study of Efficacy of Ranibizumab in Different Regimens in Patients With Diabetic Macula Edema Completed
Show 41 more trials
  1. Phase 4 Transfoveal Micropulse Laser for Center Involving Diabetic Macular Edema Completed
  2. Phase 3 An Open-label Extended Clinical Protocol of Ranibizumab to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy in Rare VEGF Driven Ocular Diseases. Completed
  3. Phase 3 Evaluating How the Treatments in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Study Affect Diabetic Retinopathy (The ACCORD Eye Study) Completed
  4. Phase 3 Laser-Ranibizumab-Triamcinolone for Diabetic Macular Edema Completed
  5. Phase 3 Study To Evaluate Safety And Tolerability Of Pegaptanib Sodium In Patients With Diabetic Macular Edema Completed
  6. Phase 3 Protein Kinase C (PKC) Inhibitor-Diabetic Retinopathy Phase 3 Study Completed
  7. Phase 3 Treatment for Completers of the Study B7A-MC-MBCM Completed
  8. Phase 2 Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Repeat Intravitreal Injections of Foselutoclax (UBX1325) in Patients With DME (ASPIRE) Completed
  9. Phase 2 A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of RG7774 in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or Type 2 With Treatment-Naive Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  10. Phase 2 A Study of BI 765128 in Patients With an Eye Condition Called Diabetic Macular Ischemia Who Have Received Laser Treatment Completed
  11. Phase 2 Non-proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Treated With Runcaciguat Completed
  12. Phase 2 HORNBILL: A Study to Test Different Doses of BI 764524 in Patients Who Have Had Laser Treatment for a Type of Diabetic Eye Disease Called Diabetic Retinopathy With Diabetic Macular Ischemia Completed
  13. Phase 2 Dosing Study of Ranibizumab for Diabetic Retinal and Macular Edema Completed
  14. Phase 2 Nesvategrast (OTT166) in Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Completed
  15. Phase 2 Sirolimus to Treat Diabetic Macular Edema Completed
  16. Phase 2 ADVM-022 Intravitreal Gene Therapy for DME Completed
  17. Phase 2 Evaluation of Doxycycline Verses Placebo for the Treatment of Severe Nonproliferative or Mild or Moderate Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  18. Phase 2 Evaluation of Effect of Doxycycline Verses Placebo on Retinal Function and Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  19. Phase 2 A Phase 2 Evaluation of Anti-VEGF Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema: Bevacizumab (Avastin) Completed
  20. Phase 2 Prevention of Macular Edema In Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy Undergoing Cataract Surgery Completed
  21. Phase 2 A Study That Tests BI 1467335 in Patients With Diabetic Eye Disease (Diabetic Retinopathy). It Looks at the Way BI 1467335 is Taken up, the Effects it Has, and How Well it is Tolerated. Completed
  22. Phase 1 Topical Autologous Serum Application for the Treatment of Corneal Epithelium Defect After Ocular Surgeries Completed
  23. Phase 1 Preoperative Injection of Bevacizumab Prior to Vitreoretinal Surgery in Diabetic Tractional Retinal Detachment Completed
  24. N/A Evaluation of Vitrectomy for Diabetic Macular Edema Completed
  25. N/A Incentives in Diabetic Eye Assessment by Screening Completed
  26. N/A Patient Navigator Intervention for Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  27. N/A Advancing Understanding of Transportation Options Completed
  28. N/A Evaluation of the Precision of the Microperimetry Function of the Spectral OCT/SLO Completed
  29. N/A Bangladesh PRODUCTIVity in Eyecare Trial Completed
  30. N/A Integrating DR Into Mainstream Health System in Bangladesh Completed
  31. N/A Feasibility Study of Retinal Screening Using the RetinaVue 100 Camera in Outpatient Dialysis Centers Completed
  32. N/A Providing Financial Incentives to Improve Adherence to Referral Eye Care Visits Completed
  33. N/A RETeval Study for Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  34. N/A Avastin for PDR (Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy) Completed
  35. N/A A Single-center, Retrospective Study to Evaluate the Clinical Performance of Artificial Intelligence Medical Assisted Diagnostic Software (VeriSee DR) for Screening of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Completed
  36. N/A Detection and Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy From Posterior Pole Images With A Deep Learning Model Completed
  37. N/A Efficacy and Safety of AEYE-DS Software Device for Automated Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy From Digital Fundus Images Completed
  38. N/A Dyslipidemia and Diabetic Retinopathy Completed
  39. N/A Philadelphia Telemedicine Glaucoma Detection and Follow-Up Study Completed
  40. N/A OCT Screening for Diabetic Macular Edema at Primary Diabetes Care Visits Completed
  41. N/A A Multi-center Study to Evaluate Performance of an Automated Device for the Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy Completed

Showing the 47 most-cited and recently-updated of 47 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found Updated — new results For clinicians

Diabetic Retinopathy: what the trials found

New evidence indicates that patient navigation programs can improve follow-up rates, with 71% of participants completing a follow-up eye exam 12-18 months after baseline 1.

Several pharmacological and procedural interventions have demonstrated efficacy in managing diabetic retinopathy. Fenofibrate (145 mg) significantly reduced the number of participants progressing to referable diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy, or requiring treatment for these conditions 2. Ranibizumab has shown significant improvements in Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) over 12 months 5 and is associated with a significantly lower rate of vision-threatening complications or center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) when delivered via a pre-filled implant compared to standard treatment 8. Additionally, triamcinolone acetonide combined with laser therapy showed significant improvements in visual acuity over one year 14.

Other interventions include aflibercept, which was evaluated in multiple trials [3, 6, 15], and pegaptanib sodium, which showed a notable change in BCVA at week 48 13. Ruboxistaurin has been studied extensively; it demonstrated significant improvements in visual acuity at 36 months 7 and significantly lower rates of sustained moderate visual loss (SMVL) compared to the control group 11. Hypoglycemic agents were shown to significantly reduce the progression of diabetic retinopathy by at least three stages or the development of proliferative diabetic retinopathy requiring intervention 12.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • * A study on ADVM-022 (6E11 vg/eye) reported varying results in BCVA changes and improvements in Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Score (DRSS) over time 16.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Fenofibrate 145 mg is associated with a significant reduction in progression to referable diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy 2.
  • Ranibizumab, particularly when delivered via a pre-filled implant, significantly reduces the risk of vision-threatening complications and improves DRSS scores compared to standard treatment 8.
  • Ruboxistaurin has been shown to improve visual acuity at 36 months and reduce the incidence of sustained moderate visual loss [7, 11].
  • Hypoglycemic agents are effective in reducing the progression of retinopathy stages and the need for photocoagulation or vitrectomy 12.

AI synthesis of 10 cited trials, updated Jun 28, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Diabetic Retinopathy Tied to Higher Dementia Incidence in Pooled Analysis
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Diabetic Retinopathy Tied to Higher Dementia Incidence in Pooled Analysis Diabetes eye damage may link to higher risk of dementia
Pooled data from nearly 3 million patients link diabetic retinopathy to higher incident dementia, though crude analyses show no significant …
A large study of over 2 million people suggests that eye damage from diabetes is linked to a higher risk of developing dementia.
Frontiers Oct 15, 2026
Scoping review finds DR trials often omit diabetes type and use small samples
Diabetes & Endocrinology Sys. Review
Scoping review finds DR trials often omit diabetes type and use small samples Improving the Quality of Clinical Trials for Diabetic Retinopathy Treatments
This scoping review examines the methodological framework of interventional trials in diabetic retinopathy, covering anti-VEGF drugs, laser …
A review of current research shows that many studies on eye disease treatments lack clear details and consistent reporting.
Frontiers Oct 9, 2026
Resting-state brain functional alterations in diabetic retinopathy relate to cognitive domains and 1,101 genes
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Resting-state brain functional alterations in diabetic retinopathy relate to cognitive domains and 1,101 genes Brain scans reveal how diabetic retinopathy affects memory and learning
This coordinate-based neuroimaging meta-analysis identifies specific resting-state brain functional alterations in patients with diabetic re…
New brain imaging shows that diabetic retinopathy is linked to changes in areas of the brain that control memory, language, and learning.
Frontiers Sep 24, 2026
SGLT2 inhibitors reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy progression (rr 0.77) and macular edema progression (rr 0.75)
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
SGLT2 inhibitors reduce risk of diabetic retinopathy progression (rr 0.77) and macular edema progression (rr 0.75) SGLT2 inhibitors show promise in slowing diabetic eye disease
This meta-analysis of 1,785,409 patients with established diabetic retinopathy (DR) or diabetic macular edema (DME) found that SGLT2i therap…
A large analysis suggests SGLT2 inhibitors may slow the progression of vision-threatening complications in people with diabetes.
Sep 4, 2026
Ranibizumab port delivery system shows noninferior BCVA gains and low supplemental treatment requirements in diabetic retinopathy
Oncology Meta-analysis
Ranibizumab port delivery system shows noninferior BCVA gains and low supplemental treatment requirements in diabetic retinopathy Ranibizumab port delivery system shows promise for diabetic eye conditions
This meta-analysis evaluates the ranibizumab port delivery system (PDS) for patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. T…
A new delivery system for ranibizumab shows consistent results for patients with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
Aug 28, 2026
Photobiomodulation protocol aims to consolidate preclinical evidence for ophthalmic diseases
Rheumatology Meta-analysis
Photobiomodulation protocol aims to consolidate preclinical evidence for ophthalmic diseases Planning to Review Light Therapy for Common Eye Diseases and Injuries
This is a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis, not a completed study. It outlines plans to evaluate photobiomodulation (PBM) …
Experts are planning a large review to see if light therapy can help treat common eye problems like glaucoma and vision loss.
Frontiers Aug 12, 2026
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause dementia
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
Diabetic retinopathy is associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause dementia Diabetic retinopathy is linked to a higher risk of dementia
This meta-analysis of observational studies involving 2,887,409 patients found that diabetic retinopathy is associated with an increased ris…
A large analysis shows people with diabetic retinopathy may face an increased risk of developing dementia, highlighting the need for closer …
Aug 1, 2026
OSAS not significantly tied to diabetic retinopathy overall, but risk doubles in Asian subgroups
Diabetes & Endocrinology Meta-analysis
OSAS not significantly tied to diabetic retinopathy overall, but risk doubles in Asian subgroups Sleep Apnea Link to Diabetic Retinopathy Varies by Region
This meta-analysis of 599,405 patients with type 2 diabetes found no significant overall association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrom…
New data suggests that the link between sleep apnea and eye damage in people with type 2 diabetes depends on location and testing methods.
Frontiers Jul 30, 2026
Dynamic gratings serve as tools for diagnosis and treatment evaluation in neuro-ophthalmic conditions
Ophthalmology Sys. Review
Dynamic gratings serve as tools for diagnosis and treatment evaluation in neuro-ophthalmic conditions Dynamic gratings help doctors understand and treat eye conditions
This narrative review explores the use of dynamic gratings, such as phase-alternating oscillation and rapid serial visual presentation, to e…
Moving patterns on a screen, called dynamic gratings, offer new ways to study and treat vision issues like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy…
Frontiers Jul 24, 2026
Specific gut microbiota taxa are associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy in T2DM patients
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
Specific gut microbiota taxa are associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy in T2DM patients Gut Bacteria Differences Linked to Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetes Patients
This meta-analysis examined gut microbiota composition and diversity in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Retinopathy. …
Specific changes in gut bacteria are linked to diabetic retinopathy, a serious eye condition affecting people with Type 2 diabetes.
Jul 24, 2026
AI-OCT reports reduced false-positive DME referral rates from 69.1% to 24.1%
Diabetes & Endocrinology RCT
AI-OCT reports reduced false-positive DME referral rates from 69.1% to 24.1% AI technology reduces unnecessary referrals for diabetic macular edema
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the impact of AI-OCT reports on identifying diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients with diabetes.…
New research shows that adding AI-powered imaging can significantly cut down on false alarms when screening patients for eye issues caused b…
JAMA Jul 21, 2026
AI diagnostic tools show high accuracy but limited real-world validation in systematic review
Oncology Meta-analysis
AI diagnostic tools show high accuracy but limited real-world validation in systematic review Artificial intelligence shows high accuracy in detecting various medical conditions
This systematic review of 24 studies synthesizes evidence on AI and deep learning for disease detection across multiple imaging modalities. …
New analysis of 24 studies shows AI tools can reach over 90% accuracy in spotting everything from lung cancer to skin disorders.
Frontiers Jul 18, 2026

Research across Diabetic Macular Edema

Related studies from across the Diabetic Macular Edema family.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are not associated with increased diabetic macular edema risk in real-world data
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
GLP-1 receptor agonists are not associated with increased diabetic macular edema risk in real-world data Comparing Eye Health Risks Between Different Types of Diabetes Medications
This meta-analysis of real-world data indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists are not associated with an increased risk of diabetic macular e…
New data looks at how GLP-1 medications affect eye health in people with diabetes compared to other common treatments.
Oct 4, 2026
Biosimilar anti-VEGF agents show comparable visual outcomes and safety to reference anti-VEGF agents
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
Biosimilar anti-VEGF agents show comparable visual outcomes and safety to reference anti-VEGF agents Biosimilar drugs show similar results for several retinal diseases
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates biosimilar anti-VEGF agents compared to reference products for several retinal diseases. …
New data shows that biosimilar drugs perform as well as brand name drugs for patients with several types of vision-threatening eye condition…
Oct 4, 2026
Intravitreal ranibizumab improves visual acuity and reduces macular thickness more than laser photocoagulation
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
Intravitreal ranibizumab improves visual acuity and reduces macular thickness more than laser photocoagulation Ranibizumab Shows Better Vision Results Than Laser for Macular Edema
This meta-analysis of 1,040 patients with diabetic macular edema found that intravitreal ranibizumab significantly improved best corrected v…
A review of data shows that ranibizumab may improve vision and reduce swelling more than laser treatment for patients with diabetic macular …
Frontiers Sep 18, 2026
Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant Shows Reduced Injection Frequency for Diabetic Macular Edema
Ophthalmology RCT
Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant Shows Reduced Injection Frequency for Diabetic Macular Edema Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant May Reduce Injection Frequency for DME
A Phase 4 trial shows fluocinolone acetonide implants achieve similar visual outcomes to aflibercept with significantly fewer total injectio…
A new eye implant for diabetic macular edema may significantly reduce the number of monthly injections needed to maintain vision.
Jul 5, 2026
Intravitreal ziv-aflibercept reduces central macular thickness and improves visual acuity in DME and RVO
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
Intravitreal ziv-aflibercept reduces central macular thickness and improves visual acuity in DME and RVO Trial shows ziv-aflibercept improves vision in macular edema cases
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 5 RCTs and 8 observational studies found that intravitreal ziv-aflibercept significantly reduced…
A new eye treatment called ziv-aflibercept may help reduce swelling and improve vision for patients with specific types of macular edema.
Jun 7, 2026
Narrative review suggests suprachoroidal injections may improve vision and reduce edema in diabetic macular edema
Rheumatology Sys. Review
Narrative review suggests suprachoroidal injections may improve vision and reduce edema in diabetic macular edema New eye injection method reduces shots and protects vision for diabetics
This narrative review examines suprachoroidal space injections versus conventional intravitreal therapies for diabetic macular edema. The au…
A new injection technique for diabetic eye disease could spare patients from frequent shots and lower the risk of cataracts while improving …
Frontiers May 12, 2026
FDA Approves Pavblu (aflibercept) for Neovascular AMD, RVO, DME, and DR
Ophthalmology FDA Approval
FDA Approves Pavblu (aflibercept) for Neovascular AMD, RVO, DME, and DR FDA approves Pavblu to treat several eye conditions that cause vision loss.
The FDA approved Pavblu (aflibercept) for neovascular AMD, macular edema following RVO, DME, and DR. It is a VEGF inhibitor administered by …
The FDA approved Pavblu (aflibercept) for wet age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopa…
FDA May 5, 2026
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows aflibercept biosimilars match reference drug efficacy and safety in AMD and DME
Ophthalmology Meta-analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis shows aflibercept biosimilars match reference drug efficacy and safety in AMD and DME Aflibercept biosimilars match the original drug for eye disease treatment
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated aflibercept biosimilars versus reference aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular …
A large review of 4064 patients found that aflibercept biosimilars work just as well as the original drug for two common eye conditions.
May 1, 2026
Aflibercept 8 mg extended dosing maintains visual gains with fewer injections versus 2 mg every 8 weeks in DME
Ophthalmology RCT
Aflibercept 8 mg extended dosing maintains visual gains with fewer injections versus 2 mg every 8 weeks in DME Aflibercept 8 mg every 16 weeks matches standard dosing for diabetic macular edema
This randomized, double-masked, noninferiority phase 2/3 trial enrolled 658 patients aged ≥ 18 years with center-involved diabetic macular e…
A new trial shows that aflibercept 8 mg every 16 weeks works as well as the standard 2 mg every 8 weeks for diabetic macular edema with fewe…
May 1, 2026
Lower vitreous CREG1 levels associated with reduced ranibizumab response in diabetic macular edema
Rheumatology Cohort
Lower vitreous CREG1 levels associated with reduced ranibizumab response in diabetic macular edema Low CREG1 levels may link to poor treatment response
This retrospective cohort study of 189 patients with diabetic macular edema found that lower vitreous CREG1 levels were associated with non-…
New findings suggest that certain protein levels and blood markers might help identify which patients respond to diabetic macular edema trea…
Frontiers Apr 30, 2026
Post hoc analysis compares brolucizumab and aflibercept for diabetic macular edema
Ophthalmology RCT
Post hoc analysis compares brolucizumab and aflibercept for diabetic macular edema A New Eye Injection Works Even If You've Had Treatment Before
A post hoc analysis of a randomized trial in 517 participants with diabetic macular edema compared intravitreal brolucizumab to aflibercept …
People with diabetic eye disease who have already tried other injections may still get meaningful vision improvement from brolucizumab.
Apr 14, 2026
Subretinal saline injection added to vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema with hard exudates
Ophthalmology RCT
Subretinal saline injection added to vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema with hard exudates Does a simple salt solution injection help eyes with diabetic swelling?
A randomized trial in 56 patients with diabetic macular edema and hard exudates compared vitrectomy with subretinal balanced salt solution i…
A simple salt solution injection under the retina helped patients with diabetic eye swelling see better and reduced fluid buildup within sev…
Apr 9, 2026

Questions about Diabetic Retinopathy

Does Euonymus alatus have any effects on diabetic retinopathy?

Early animal and lab studies suggest Euonymus alatus extracts and one of its compounds may slow diabetic retinopathy by blocking abnormal blood vessel growth, but human evidence is lacking.

Full answer →
Can Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides help with complications like diabetic retinopathy?

There is no direct evidence that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides treat diabetic retinopathy; one review found they promote angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth), which could be a concern in retinopathy [9].

Full answer →
Can smartphone images be used to screen for diabetic retinopathy in low-resource settings?

Yes, smartphone-based imaging combined with AI screening tools can effectively detect diabetic retinopathy in low-resource settings, though further real-world testing is needed.

Full answer →
Does having a high LDL-C to HDL-C ratio increase heart risks if I have diabetic retinopathy?

Yes, a high LDL-C to HDL-C ratio (≥2.0) is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and diabetic retinopathy, even when taking statins.

Full answer →
How well do AI screening tools detect diabetic retinopathy compared to other methods?

AI screening tools detect diabetic retinopathy with high accuracy, outperforming conventional methods in meta-analyses, but real-world performance varies.

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Is there a link between having diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration?

Current evidence shows no significant link between diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration, despite shared risk factors.

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See all 6 questions about Diabetic Retinopathy →

All Diabetic Retinopathy Articles