AIM: To analyze the effect of Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Decoction combined with Conbercept on diabetic macular edema(DME), and the influence on TCM syndromes and serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression. METHODS: Between January 2017 and June 2019, 60 patients admitted to the ophthalmology department at Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were perspective enrolled in the study. They were divided into observation group and control group by random number table method, 30 cases with 30 eyes in each group. The control group were treated with intravitreal injection of Conbercept, while the observation group were treated with Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Decoction combined with intravitreal injection of Conbercept. Changes in TCM symptom scores, the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), retinal neovascularization(RNV)fluorescein leakage area under fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)and VEGF expression were compared between the two groups, and complications were recorded.RESULTS: Three months after treatment, the observation group had lower scores for blurred version, dry eyes, fatigue, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, and thirst than the control group(P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in BCVA between the 2 groups before and after treatment(all P<0.01). The observation group had higher BCVA than the control group at 1mo, 3mo and 6mo(P<0.05). Differences in CMT between the 2 groups before and after treatment were statistically significant(all P<0.01). Besides, the observation group had smaller CMT than the control group at 7d, 14d, 1mo, 3mo and 6mo(P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in RNV between the two groups before and after treatment(all P<0.01), and the observation group had smaller RNV than the control group at 7d, 14d, 1mo, 3mo and 6mo(P<0.05). Difference in VEGF between the 2 groups before and after treatment were statistically significant(all P<0.01). The VEGF expression level was lower in the observation group than in the control group at 7d, 14d, 1mo, 3mo and 6mo(P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of complications between the two groups(7% vs 10%, P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Decoction combined with intravitreal injection of Conbercept is more effective than Conbercept alone in the treatment of DME. The former can significantly improve the patient's vision and CMT, reduce leakage area, down regulate the expression of VEGF, and promote the absorption of retinal edema, with good safety.