VITRECTOMY FOR DIFFUSE MACULAR EDEMA IN CASES OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

PURPOSE: To ascertain the effects of posterior vitreous detachment for diffuse diabetic macular edema. METHODS: We performed vitrectomy on 5 8 eyes of 41 consecutive patients with diabetic macular edema without posterior vitreous detachment, Follow-up was done at 12 months postope ratively. RESULTS: In 57 of 58 eyes after vitrectomy and posterior vit reous detachment, macular edema resolved, and diffuse fluorescein leak age disappeared in 35 of 36 eyes examined at the 12th month, Visual im provement was statistically significant (P < .0001, paired t test). CO NCLUSION: In eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema and without post erior vitreous detachment, vitrectomy with posterior vitreous detachme nt may be effective.