AIM:To study the effect of vitrectomy with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS: Vitrectomy with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide 2mg was performed on 47 eyes of 45 patients. The intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure and the changes of macula central fovea thickness were observed.

RESULTS: Intraoperative complications: 7 eyes(15%)happened Iatrogenic tear hole, 13 eyes(28%)happened retinal hemorrhage; Postoperative complications: 13 eyes(28%)found triamcinolone acetonide entered anterior chamber, 9 eyes(19%)found hyphema, 6 eyes(13%)presented fundus hemorrhage. Visual acuity was improved in 35 eyes(74%)after 3mo and 27 eyes(57%)after 6mo, with statistical difference with preoperative(P<0.05). the intraocular pressure of postoperative were 23.47±5.21, 26.58±6.35, 19.12±5.76 and 17.43±4.91mmHg at 7d, 1, 3 and 6mo respectively. Compared with preoperative(16.32±4.64mmHg), the differences had statistically significant at 7d and 1mo(P<0.05). Macula central fovea thickness were 404.05±89.71, 277.14±41.25, 254.82±33.64 and 226.49±28.57μm at7d, 1, 3 and 6mo respectively. The differences had statistically significant at 1, 3 and 6mo compared with preoperative 433.51±101.02μm(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy combined with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide 2mg can reduce macular edema and improve visual acuity. It is an effective and safe procedure for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.