AIM:To study the efficacy of retrobulbar injection of triamcinolone acetonide(TA) combined with macular laser photocoagulation after vitrectomy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.METHODS:PPV combined with full panretinal photocoagulation were performed in 43 cases with PDR, 40mg/mL TA after operation were injected retrobulbarly, 32 cases with macular edema diagnosed 1 week later were treated with macular laser photocoagulation(532nm) 2 weeks postoperatively. The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), CMT and complications were analyzed after postoperative 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS:Twenty-eight cases'BCVA(88%) increased after 1 month, 4 cases(12%) were not changed. The difference of BCVA after 1 month compared with after 1 week was statistically significant(P<0.05), the difference of BCVA after 3 and 6 months compared with after 1 month was not statistically significant(P>0.05). The CMT was thickening after 1 week, and decreased after 1 month compared with after 1 week, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The difference of CMT after 3 and 6 months compared with after 1 month was not statistically significant(P>0.05). The serious, irreversible complications had not been found in all patients during follow-up. CONCLUSION:Retrobulbar injection of TA combined with macular laser photocoagulation for the treatment of PDR, postoperative DEM gained satisfactory and long lasting clinical effect.