Abstract:

To evaluate the clinical outcome of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) combined with laser photocoagulation for diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME). MethodsThirty eyes of 24 patients with macular edema were randomly divided into two groups: the simple laser photocoagulation  group (n=15) and the laser combination with IVTA-photocoagulation group (n=15). Eyes in the combination group were subjected to laser photocoagulation one week after 4 mg IVTA. The best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness (FT) (by optical coherence tomography) and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. ResultsBaseline VA and FT was respectively 0.10±0.09 and 518.1±117.5μm in the photocoagulation group and 0.11±0.120 and 524.9±147.4μm in the combination group， which was not statistically significant between the two groups. Visual acuity was improved and FT was reduced in the two groups. BCVA was 0.19±0.16 and 0.23±0.18 at 3 months and 0.17±0.13 and 0.28±0.15 at 6 months after treatments, FT was 324.1±115.2μm and 279.4±98.8?μm at 3 months and 354.1±121.2μm and 248.4±102.6μm at 6 months after treatments， for the laser photocoagulation group and combined group, respectively (P<0.001). 2 cases had an increased transitory intraocular pressure and were controlled by drugs, and 1 case had cataract progression in the combination group. ConclusionIVTA combined with laser photocoagulation is superior to simple laser photocoagulation in improving VA and reducing FT.

Key words:  Diabetic retinopathy; Macular edema;   Triamcinolone acetonide; Laser photocoagulation;  Optical coherence tomography