Objective       To compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (R) alone and its combination with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the treatment of repeated or continuous central retinal vein occlusion accompanied by macular edema (CRVO-ME).       Methods      In the controlled clinical study

38 patients (40 eyes) with repeated or continuous CRVO-ME were injected with R 0.5 mg in the vitreous cavity for the first time. They were randomly divided into an R group and an R+TA group under the condition of patients’ informed consent. In the R group

20 patients (22 eyes) performed injection of R 0.5 mg

and in R+TA group

18 patients (18 eyes) performed vitreous injection of R 0.5 mg and TA 1 mg. Based on the result of optical coherence tomography

the patients received repeated vitreous injection when the macular center concave retinal thickness was larger than 250 μm. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)

central macular thickness (CMT)

and intraocular pressure of each group in 1

2

3

4

5

and 6 month after corresponding treatment were detected

and the slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed to compare the changes of CMT and BCVA.       Results        Both CMT and BCVA of each group were improved significantly after treatment

with statistically significant difference (P0.05)

but all the indicators had no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P0.05). Besides

the frequency for injection was 2.61±0.92 times in the R+TA group and 4.05±0.65 times in the R group

and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P0.01). No complications were found in the R group

but 2 cases of elevated intraocular pressure and 1 case of cortical cataract were observed in the R+TA group.       Conclusion       The intravitreal injection of R alone and R+TA in the treatment of repeated or continuous CRVO-ME can reduce ME and improve eye sight

but the therapeutic effect has no significant difference between the 2 methods. R+TA therapy can reduce the frequency of injection

but it may increase the risks of cataract and glaucoma.