Long-Term Outcome after Vitrectomy for Diabetic Macular Edema

Vol. 220, No. 3, 2006

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Original Paper

Long-Term Outcome after Vitrectomy for Diabetic Macular Edema
Martina T. Kralinger^a, Markus Pedri^a, Franz Kralinger^b, Josef Troger^a, Gerhard F. Kieselbach^a

Departments of
^aOphthalmology, and
^bTrauma, University of Innsbruck, Medical School, Innsbruck, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2006;220:147-152 (DOI: 10.1159/000091756)

Key Words

Diabetic macular edema
Vitrectomy
Visual acuity

Abstract

Background: To determine the benefit of vitrectomy on eyes with diabetic macular edema. Methods: A retrospective institutional case series was used including 66 patients (69 eyes) who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema between 1992 and 2000. Prior to surgery, the patients had been treated with laser coagulation as recommended by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. In the case of persistent macular edema, vitrectomy with removal of the posterior hyaloid in all cases and the inner limiting mem brane in 51 (74%) of all cases was performed. Results: The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/320 to 20/80 at the time of best postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (p < 0.0001). The mean increase in Snellen lines was 2.7 ± 7.9. In 90% of eyes, the macular edema improved. A persistence of the edema was observed in 10%. All eyes had at least 12 months of follow-up with a mean of 55 months and a maximum of 120 months. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that vitrectomy might represent a therapeutic alternative in the case of persisting diabetic macular edema after laser photocoagulation.

Author Contacts

Martina T. Kralinger, MD
Universitätsklinik für Augenheilkunde und Optometrie
Anichstrasse 35
AT-6020 Innsbruck (Austria)
Tel. +43 512 504 24184, Fax +43 512 504 23740, E-Mail martina.kralinger@uibk.ac.at

Article Information

The data have been presented at the Annual Meeting of the Vitreous Society in New York, 2003.

Received: March 3, 2005
Accepted after revision: July 28, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 20

Medline Abstract (ID 16679787)

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