To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of cataract surgery and intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with cataract and diabetic macular edema.

Patients received an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab(1.25 mg) combined with phacoemulsification and implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, LogMAR) and, central macular thickness (CMT) were measured using OCT at baseline and at one week, one, three, and six months after surgery, and adverse events were recorded.

The mean baseline LogMAR BCVA was 0.84±0.50 and mean CMT was 337.1±57.50 µm. At one week, one, three, and six months after surgery, the mean BCVAs were 0.52±0.40, 0.51±0.42, 0.52±0.34, and 0.46±0.37, and the mean CMTs were 356.4±86.44 µm, 338.8±138.4 µm, 349.0±122.9 µm, and 334.2±100.4 µm, respectively. No adverse events associated with cataract surgery or intravitreal bevacizumab injection were observed.

The short-term results from the present study suggest the combination of cataract surgery and intravitreal bevacizumab injection are safe and effective for the prevention of macular edema aggravation for one month, but has little effect on prevention of macular edema aggravation three months after surgery for diabetic macular edema patients.