To compare the effect and complications of treatments for diabetic macular edema.

Literature review using the Korean medical database and the Korean Ophthalmological Society database was performed. Studies used consisted of patients with diabetic macular edema, comparing intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection with posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide (STTA) injection or intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection, according to visual acuity (VA) outcomes, central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1, 3, and 6 months.

In the three studies comparing IVTA injection with STTA injection, IVTA injection demonstrated greater improvement in VA at 1 month and CMT at 6 months. The patients who received IVTA injection had significantly higher IOP at 3 months. In the three studies comparing IVTA injection with IVB injection, IVTA injection demonstrated greater improvement in VA at 3 months and CMT at 6 months.

The functional and anatomical improvements are achieved by IVTA injection, STTA injection, and IVB injection for diabetic macular edema, and the effect of IVTA injection is more prominent than other injection types with longer duration.