AIM:To observe the clinical effect of ranibizumab combined with 577nm micropulse laser in the treatment of severe diabetic macular edema(DME).

METHODS:There were 52 eyes of 52 patients diagnosed with severe DME who admitted to the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from June 2016 to September 2019. The patients were randomly divided into the observation group(26 patients with 26 eyes, treated with ranibizumab combined with 577nm micropulse laser)and the control group(26 patients with 26 eyes, treated with ranibizumab alone). Patients in both groups received intravitreal injection of ranibizumab with “3+PRN” regimen. Followed up at 9mo after treatment to observe the central macular thickness(CMT), the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and the times of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in the two groups.

RESULTS:Compared with before treatment, the CMT and BCVA of the two groups were significantly improved at each time point after treatment(all P<0.001), but there was no difference between the two groups(P>0.05). During the follow-up period, the times of vitreous injection of ranibizumabin the observation group was significantly less than that in the control group(5.88±1.24 times vs 7.12±1.24 times, P=0.001).

CONCLUSION:Both ranibizumab combined with 577nm micropulse laser and ranibizumab alone are effective in reducing edema and improving vision in patients with severe DME, but the combination therapy reduces the times of injection.