Recommendations for research

The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research.

Key recommendations for research

1 Effectiveness of clinical features or factors that suggest treatment for diabetic macular oedema should be switched or stopped

What are the clinical features or factors that suggest treatment should be switched or stopped for people with diabetic macular oedema?

2 Prognostic factors for the progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema or macular ischaemia

What are the prognostic factors for the progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema and macular ischaemia?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on information that should be available to all people involved in the care of people with diabetic retinopathy.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review A: prognostic factors for progression of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

3 Effectiveness of different treatment strategies for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

What is the effectiveness and acceptability of observation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents (anti-VEGFs) and laser photocoagulation (alone or in combination) for the treatment of severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

4 Rapid, substantial reductions in HbA1c

In people experiencing a rapid, substantial reduction in HbA1c, what is the risk of short-term progression of diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema, and is there a risk of long-term visual loss?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on effects of a rapid reduction in HbA1c.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review C: effectiveness of intensive treatments to lower blood glucose levels.

5 Effectiveness of different treatment strategies for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

What is the effectiveness and acceptability of combination treatments for proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

Other recommendations for research

6 Effectiveness of different thresholds or criteria for starting treatment for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

What is the effectiveness of different thresholds or criteria for starting treatment for people with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

7 Statins to prevent progression of non-proliferative retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema

What is the effectiveness of intensive statin treatment compared with standard statin treatment for people with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on statins.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: effectiveness of lipid modification therapies and antihypertensive medicines.

8 Fibrates to prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy

What is the effectiveness of fibrates to prevent progression of diabetic retinopathy in people from a range of ethnic backgrounds?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on fenofibrate.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: effectiveness of lipid modification therapies and antihypertensive medicines.

9 Most effective and acceptable method of delivering panretinal photocoagulation

What is the most effective and acceptable method of delivering panretinal photocoagulation for people with proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

10 Effectiveness of treatments for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy before, during or after cataract surgery

In people with moderate to severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy who are about to have or who have had cataract surgery, what is the effectiveness and acceptability of different treatments for diabetic retinopathy (before, during or after surgery)?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on cataract surgery.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review I: treatments before, during or after cataract surgery.

11 Effectiveness of treatments for diabetic macular oedema before, during or after cataract surgery

In people with diabetic macular oedema who are about to have, or who have had cataract surgery, what is the effectiveness and acceptability of different treatments for diabetic macular oedema (before, during or after surgery)?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on cataract surgery.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review I: treatments before, during or after cataract surgery.

12 Monitoring frequencies for people with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

What is the most effective monitoring frequency for non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in people who are cared for under hospital eye services and are not receiving treatment?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on when to assess disease status and how often to monitor.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review J: effectiveness of different monitoring frequencies.

13 Monitoring frequencies for people with proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema

What is the most effective monitoring frequency for proliferative diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular oedema in people who have received treatment?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on when to assess disease status and how often to monitor.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review J: effectiveness of different monitoring frequencies.

14 Diagnostic test accuracy for monitoring disease progression

For people who are under the care of hospital eye services, what is the diagnostic test accuracy of ultrawide-field fundus imaging for diagnosing the progression of diabetic retinopathy to proliferative diabetic retinopathy?

For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on imaging techniques for monitoring diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema.

Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review K: diagnostic accuracy of ultrawide-field fundus photography and optical coherence tomography.