AIM: To evaluate the clinical application of simply performing phacoemulsification or combining intravitreal Ranibizumab injection in the treatment of cataract combined with diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS: Forty-six patients(46 eyes)were recruited in this study. All of the patients were non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy without significant macular edema. They were randomly divided into two groups, the control group simply performed phacoemulsification, while the study group performed intravitreal Ranibizumab injection and phacoemulsification. Observation of indicators included the condition of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, macular retinal thickness and complication at preoperative and postoperative 1, 6mo.

RESULTS:BCVA and macular retinal thickness of patients in two groups had no differences in the preoperative and postoperative 1mo. At postoperative 6mo, the BCVA of the study group was better than that in the control group, while its macular retinal thickness was thinner than that in the control group(P<0.05). The ratio of macular edema(central macular thickness was >60μm than that in control group)was 13.0% eyes in the study group which was significantly lower than the control group(47.8%; P=0.033). The complications was no significant differences in two groups and neither occurred severe complications.

CONCLUSION:Intravitreal Ranibizumab injection can reduce the development of macular edema and improve the BCVA after phacoemulsification.