Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the visual and anatomical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in diabetic macular edema (DME) associated with an epiretinal membrane (ERM).
Methods: :
Medical charts from diabetic patients operated on for a DME associated with an ERM were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) measured by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).
Results: :
36 eyes of 28 diabetic patients were included. The mean post-operative follow-up duration was 7.1 ± 3.7 months (range, 3 to 12 months). After a 6-month follow-up, the mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.83 ± 0.33 to 0.69 ± 0,34 (P < 0, 01). CMT decreased from 504±136 µm to 412 ±188µm at 6 months (P< 0.01). Cataract extraction was combined with ERM peeling in 8 eyes. In this subgroup, similar VA outcomes with no significant progression of DME were found compared to eyes with non-combined surgery. Triamcinolone intravitreal injections (IVTA) were performed in 15 patients, allowing to obtain a significant improve in VA level and CMT, with no difference in VA gain and CMT decrease compared to eyes with no IVTA.
Conclusions: :
Vitrectomy is generally an effective procedure in reducing macular thickness and improving visual acuity in eyes with DME combined with an ERM.
Keywords: diabetes • vitreoretinal surgery • macula/fovea