Combined laser-IVTA treatment better than laser alone for proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema

This randomized trial included19 treatment-naïve patients with bilateral moderate proliferative diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macular edema. After three, weekly sessions of bilateral panretinal laser photocoagulation, intravitreal tramcinolone acetonide (IVTA) was injected in one randomly assigned eye of each patient. BCVA significantly improved and central macular thickness and total macular volume were significantly less in the combined treatment group compared with laser-only group throughout 12-months of follow-up.