AIM: To investigate the effect of retrobulbar injection of triamcinolone acetonide(TA) combined with laser photocoagulation for chronic cystoid macular edema after cataract operation. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients 37 eyes with chronic cystoid macular edema after cataract operation were included. Seventeen eyes were treated with retrobulbar injection of TA combined with laser photocoagulation and twenty eyes only received laser photocoagulation. The follow-up time was 6 months. Visual acuity, fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA) and complications were observed and compared after treatment. RESULTS: All eyes had improved visual acuity after one month. At the end of the follow-up of 6 months, among the patients with retrobulbar injection of TA combined with laser photocoagulation, visual acuity was improved by 2 lines or more in 11 eyes (65%), improved within 1line or remained the same in 4 eyes (23%), decreased in 2 eyes (12%). Edema in 14 eyes (82%) was relieved after treatment. Among patients with laser photocoagulation, visual acuity was improved by 2 lines or more in 3 eyes (15%), improved within 1line or remained the same in 11 eyes (55%), edema in 9 eyes (40%) was relieved after treatment. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Retrobulbar injection of TA combined with laser photocoagulation for chronic cystoid macular edema after cataract operation is better than the operation only using laser photocoagulation