AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection combined with grid pattern photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS: Forty patients(40 eyes)with cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion were enrolled. In the treatment group, 20 cases(20 eyes)were treated with intravitreal injection of 2mg triamcinolone acetonide, then grid pattern photocoagulation for macular area at 1wk after the injection. Another 20 patients(20 eyes)in control group were treated with intravitreal injection of 2mg triamcinolone acetonide only. Macular retinal thickness was measured by OCT before and after treatments to analyze the absorption of the cystoid macular edema and the improvement of visual acuity.

RESULTS: The mean macular retinal thickness of treatment group before treatments was 412.67±133.04μm. At 3mo after treatments macular retinal thickness was 281.63±59.39μm. The mean macular retinal thickness of control group before treatments was 409.58±131.96μm, and at 3mo after treatments macular retinal thickness was 358.72±116.17μm. There was a significant difference between the two group on mean macular retinal thickness after treatments(t=8.97, P=0.003<0.05). After 3mo of treatments, cystoid macular edema reappeared in 4 patients and repeated intraocular injection of triamcinolone acetonide was given. In the control group, 12 cases had recurrent macular edema and were given repeated intraocular injection of triamcinolone acetonide. With Chi-square test, there was a significant difference between the two groups on the recurrence rate(χ²=6.50,P=0.022 <0.05).

CONCLUSION: Combined therapy of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and grid pattern photocoagulation in macular area for cystoid macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion is effective, and the visual acuity improve significantly with fewer relapses.