AIM: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal conbercept (IVC) as adjunctive treatments before panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) to decrease hyperreflective dots (HRDs) in Chinese proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients. METHODS: Fifty-nine enrolled patients were categorized into 2 groups: single dose IVC (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) 1wk before PRP (Plus group) or PRP only (PRP group). Six months later, we measured the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macula thickness (CMT) by optical coherence tomography and counted the number of HRDs in different retina layers. RESULTS: The average CMT significantly decreased in Plus group but increased in PRP group. The average BCVA in the Plus group was also significantly better than that in the PRP group. Total HRDs decreased in the Plus group but increased in PRP group significantly. IVC pre-treatment has beneficial effects on reducing HRDs forming in the inner retina layer while the PRP alone increased the HRDs in the outer retina layer. CONCLUSION: IVC is a promising adjunctive treatment to PRP in the treatment of PDR. Single dose IVC one week before PRP is suggested to improve retina blood-retina barrier, decrease lipid exudate and inhibit HRDs development in PDR.