AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of grid pattern laser photocoagulation alone or combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

METHODS:Seventy-eight patients(78 eyes)with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)and diabetic macular edema hospitalized in Department of Ophthalmology of Guangning People's Hospital from December 2012 to June 2015 were collected and randomly divided into two groups, combined therapy group and mono- therapy group. The 41 patients in combined therapy group received the intravitreal imjection of Ranibizumab then photocoagulation treatment at 10d after the injection. The 37 patients in mono-therapy group received the treatment of photocoagulation only. Pre- and post-treatment outcomes including best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central macular thickness(CMT)were compared. The period of follow-up was 6mo.

RESULTS:At the end of follow-up, the effective rate of the combined therapy group was better than that of mono-therapy group(P<0.05). In mono-therapy and combined therapy group, the CMT had been decreasing gradually after treatments(P<0.05). In the comparison of CMT between the two groups at 1, 3 and 6mo after treatments, the combined therapy group were better and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Photocoagulation alone or combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for the diabetic macular edema both have an effect on reducing the macular edema in a short time(in 6mo)and on improving the visual acuity, while the combined therapy has a better effect than the mono-therapy.

CONCLUSION:The grid pattern laser photocoagulation combined with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab will be the preferred therapy for DME in primary hospital in the future.