AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of diosmin in treating non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 48 cases of non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion were randomly divided into two groups. Twenty-seven eyes of 27 cases were enrolled in treatment group, receiving diosmin, 0.9g, po, bid, 4 weeks as a course altogether for 12 weeks. Twenty-one eyes of 21 cases in control group receiving danxiang guanxin injection 16mL+5g/L glucose injection(or sodium chloride injection)500mL, iv, qd for 1 week followed Salvia miltiorrhiza tablets, 3 tablets, po, tid, for 11 weeks. The best-corrected visual acuity, variation of eye fundus, electroretinogram, incidence rate of macular edema, and the thickness of macular were observed before and 4, 8, 12 weeks after the treatment.

RESULTS: The improvement of best-corrected visual acuity in treatment group was much better than that in control group with statistical difference between two groups at the end of 4, 8, 12 weeks(P<0.05). At the end of 4 weeks after treatment, the absorbency of bleeding and exudation of treatment group was 63%, higher than that of control group(33%, P<0.05). In dark adaptation eyes, the maximum amplitude of b wave in treatment group were meliorated 12 weeks later(231±39μV versus 184±65μV, P<0.05), also showing more improvement than those in control group(207±49μV, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in incidence rate of macular edema between the two groups(17 in treatment group versus 14 in control group, P<0.05). The thickness of macular in treatment group was 298±54μm, which was much less than that in control group(369±76μm, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: In non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion, diosmin is efficient in reducing macular edema, alleviating the retinal disfunction, improving visual function. Its therapeutic efficacy is better than Salvia miltiorrhiza.