AIM:To observe the effect and safety of Ranibizumab intravitreal injection combined with laser photocoagulation in treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retina vein occlusion(BRVO).

METHODS:Forty-four patients(44 eyes)with macular edema secondary to BRVO were enrolled. Patients received intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(0.05mL/0.5mg)and laser photocoagulation(ranibizumab group)or laser photocoagulation alone(control group). Patients in ranibizumab group were given laser photocoagulation at 1mo after intravitreal injection. Then ranibizumab was given again if needed. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), slitlamp examination, fundus examination, non-contact tonometer examination and fundus fluorescein angiography were taken. All patients were followed up for 6mo. We analyzed the changes on BCVA,central macular thickness(CMT)before and 1,4,12 and 24wk after treatments, and related complications were recorded.

RESULTS:Outcomes are significantly better in ranibizumab group with reduced retinal thickness and improved visual acuity. In ranibizumab group, both visual acuity and CMT values were significantly better than those before treatments(visual acuity:t=5.781,7.496,7.341,7.836, all P=0.000; CMT:t=9.784,11.893,11.573,11.437, all P=0.000).In control group, the improvement on visual acuity was not significantly better than that before treatment at 1wk(t=2.130,P=0.053); while the improvement on visual acuity was significantly better at 4,12 and 24wk(t=3.524,6.429,6.922,P=0.04,0.000,0.000).The improvements on visual acuity after treatments in ranibizumab group were significantly better than those in control group at 1,4,12 and 24wk(t=2.604,3.223,3.303,3.296,P=0.015,0.03,0.04,0.03).CMT values after treatments in ranibizumab group were significantly better than those in contral group at 1,4,12 and 24wk(t=43.231,50.504,56.074,38.103,all P=0.000).No severe ocular and systematic side effect was found.

CONCLUSION:Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab combined with laser photocoagulation was effective and safe for macular edema secondary to BRVO.