ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of phacoemulsification with intravitreal triamcinolone injection (IVTA) in diabetic patients with severe cataract and diabetic macular edema (DME). MethodsTwenty-one patients (25 eyes) with severe cataract and DME were enrolled in this retrospective study. Fifteen eyes underwent standard phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with 4 mg IVTA at completion of surgery. Ten eyes underwent standard phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. All the patients were followed up for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography(OCT) and ophthalmological examination.Changes in logarithm of he minimal angel of resolution (logMAR) BCVA and central macular thickness (CMT) were evaluated preoperatively and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively by repeated measures ANOVA. Correlations between logMAR BCVA and CMT preoperatively and postoperatively were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Postoperative 6 months logMAR BCVA and affecting factors were evaluated by multivariate linear regression analysis. ResultsBoth groups showed significant improvements of logMAR BCVA after surgery (F=4.855, 6.235; P=0.037, 0.020). There were no statistical differences of logMAR BCVA improvement at different time points postoperatively (F=0.007, 0.006, 0.023; P=0.973, 0.938, 0.882). The CMT reductions in IVTA group at month 1 and month 3 postoperatively were statistically significant than the reductions in group without IVTA(F=10.449, 7.374; P=0.012, 0.026), and there was no statistical difference of CMT reduction at month 6 postoperatively between two groups(F=2.173; P=0.114). Correlation Coefficients between CMT and BCVA were not statistically significant preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively(r=0.279, 0.172; P=0.295, 0.574). Analysis of multiple linear regression showed that external limiting membrane status and duration of diabetes are factors affecting the visual recovery (β=0.577, -0.411; P=0.025, 0.030). ConclusionsPhacoemulsification with concurrent IVTA for treatment of patients with severe cataract and DME is effective in reducing edema. But IVTA does not further improve logMAR BCVA postoperatively.