Treatment of diabetic macular edema with triamcinolone acetonide and ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation

Objective To investigate the efficacy of posterior sub-tenon’s injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) combined with laser photocoagulation in the treatment of diabetic macular edema. Methods Retrospective clinical follow-up study.The data of 90 eyes of 56 patients with diabetic macular edema were analyzed.All cases were treated with injection of TA (20 mg) in posterior sub-tenon’s, intravitreal injection of ranibizumab 20 days after injection and then laser photocoagulation 1 week later. Results All patients were followed up for 1-18 months. The visual acvity were improved in 31 eyes after photocoagulation, accounting for 34.4%, no changed in 55 eyes (61.1%), and descended in 4 eyes (4.4%). Macular edema disappeared completely in 31 eyes (34.4%), significantly reduced in 32 eyes(35.6%), reducded in 11 eyes (12.2%), no changed in 16 eyes (17.8%). Conclusion Posterior sub-tenon’s injection of triamcinolone acetonide can reduce the retinal edema and the energy of photocoagulation.It also can protect the function of the retina by reducing the complications. Key words: Triamcinolone acetonide; Ranibizumab; Photocoagulation; Edema, macular, diabetic