AIM: To study the clinical value of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in adjuvant treatment of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide(IVTA)for macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion(RVO).

METHODS: Forty-eight eyes in 48 patients were randomly divided into trial and control group(24 eyes each)in this prospective study. In the trial group, additional pranoprofen drops was administered from 1d before IVTA to 30d after injection. Central foveal thickness(CFT)was measured with optical coherence tomography(OCT). Available documents of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), CFT, intraocular pressure and complications pre- and post-injection at 3d, 1,2wk, 1 and 3mo were evaluated.

RESULTS: After IVTA, BCVA was improved in both groups at different levels; but there was no statistically significant between two groups at each time point(P>0.05). The CFT values were 629±43μm vs 605±57μm before IVTA in the trail vs control groups(P>0.05). The values were 432±74μm vs 511±32μm(t=7.533, P<0.05), and 275±54μm vs 379±29μm(t=13.212, P<0.05)of the trial vs control groups at 1 and 3mo after IVTA, respectively. Ocular hypertension occurred in 5 eyes after injection in trail group, and was controlled with anti-glaucoma medication and one eye with filtration surgery. Progression of cataract was noted in 3 of 35 phakic eyes and cataract surgery was performed in 2 eyes at 4-12mo after injection in trail group. Progression of cataract was noted in 4 eyes and cataract surgery was performed in 2 eyes at 4-12mo after injection in control group. No retinal detachment and endophthalmitis happened during the whole period of follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops in perioperative period can be useful to improve the outcome of IVTA for macular edema, which needs further evaluation.