AIM: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab injection combined grid laser photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).

METHODS: Forty-two confirmed cases(42 eyes)with macular edema secondary to BRVO were randomized into 3 groups, each group contained 14 eyes. The ranibizumab group was received intravitreal injection of ranibizumab(0.05mL), the laser group was received grid laser photocoagulation, and the combined group was received a second therapy of grid laser photocoagulation after 1wk of the intravitreal injection of ranibizumab. Recorded the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and the central macular thickness(CMT)preoperative and at 1, 3, 6mo after therapy.

RESULTS: The BCVA and the CMT had no differences among three groups pretherapy(P>0.05). While BCVA was much better and CMT was reduced significantly posttherapy than pretherapy in all three groups(P<0.05). The BCVA and CMT in the ranibizumab group were significantly different in every time point(1, 3, 6mo)(P<0.05). The BCVA declined and the CMT was thicker as the time went on. In the laser group and the combined group, BCVA and CMT had little differences in different time point(P>0.05). While the BCVA was better and the CMT was thinner in the combined group than ranibizumab group and laser group at every time point(P<0.05). At 3 and 6mo, the BCVA was better and the CMT was thinner in laser group than Ranibizumab group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The intravitreal ranibizumab injection combined grid laser photocoagulation is an effective treatment method for the macular edema secondary to BRVO, it is more effective in improving BCVA than intravitreal ranibizumab or grid laser photocoagulation alone.