AIM: To observe the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation for the treatment of macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).

METHODS: According to fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), 30 eyes of 30 patients with BRVO were randomized into three groups: group 1(10 eyes)received grid laser treatment alone, group 2 received a single dose of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(0.05mL/0.5mg)followed by grid laser treatment on 7d following injection, while group 3(10 eyes)received three loading doses of intravitreal ranibizumab with 0.05mL/0.5mg for three times. At 1mo interval, grid laser treatment was performed after 7d of the 1st injection. After 6mo follow-up, the best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography(OCT)and central macular thickness were observed.

RESULTS:After 6mo, the visual acuity of patients were improved significantly. There was an average increase of 11 letters, 17 letters and 18 letters in group 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with the average decrease in OCT being 208.7μm, 312.9μm and 326.8μm, respectively, in these groups. Gain in visual acuity more than 3 lines was 1 case(10%)in group 1. There were 3 cases(30%)in group 2 and 4 cases(40%)in group 3.

CONCLUSION:Combined therapy is better than laser therapy alone. Single dose of intravitreal ranibizumab with grid laser for macular edema in BRVO seems to be effective.