To evaluate the short-term effect of an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Eighteen eyes of 18 patients who underwent intravitreal ranibizumab injection for the treatment of diabetic macular edema between March 1 and November 30, 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. Complete ophthalmic examinations including best corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed at baseline and follow-up visits at one and three months.

The mean Visual Acuity Improved From Logmar 0.74 ± 0.45 At Baseline To Logmar 0.44 ± 0.26 At One Month And To Logmar 0.42 ± 0.23 At Three Months ( P < 0.05). The Mean Central Macular Thickness Decreased From 429.5 ± 71.9 µM At Baseline To 299.9 ± 81.2 µM At One Month And To 284.6 ± 82.6 µM At Three Months ( P < 0.05). No Adverse Side Effects Were Observed Following the injections.

The observed macular edema and visual acuity improvements demonstrated that intravitreal ranibizumab injection may be useful for the treatment of patients with diabetic macular edema.