AIM: To observe and compare the effect of intravitreous injection of triamcinolone acetonide(TA)and laser photocoagulation for macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO), and to investigate the necessity and time point for combination of two therapies.

METHODS: The patients with macular edema of non-ischemia BRVO were divided randomly into TA group(46 eyes)and laser group(44 eyes), and were treated with double blind method. TA group underwent intravitreous injection TA(IVTA)4mg, laser group was with grid photocoagulation within blood vessels arch and spot photocoagulation in nonperfusion area. The patients' best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and central retinal thickness(CRT)by optic coherence tomography(OCT)in different time of pre-and post-therapy were examined and the data were analyzed by independent sample t test.

RESULTS: One week to one month after treatment, the improvement of BCVA and CRT in TA group were significant better than those in laser group in patients whose initial CRT were 300-500μm. One to three months after treatment, the improvement in TA group dropped down slowly, while the improvement in laser group increased gradually. Six months after treatment, there was no significant difference between TA group and laser group. A few patients in TA group needed re-injection due to recurred macular edema.

CONCLUSION: Both IVTA and laser photocoagulation could be used in BRVO whose CRT ranged 300 -500μm; The patients with CRT larger than 500μm could be treated by combined therapy of IVTA followed by laser grid photocoagulation 1 week-1 month later. Recurrence of macular edema after IVTA could be injected TA again six months after first injection.