COMBINED PHACOEMULSIFICATION MEMBRANE RESECTION AND MACULAR EDEMA

Purpose To evaluate the occurrence of macular edema (ME) after epireti nal membrane resection, managed either with simple vitrectomy or with combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification. Material and methods Two groups of 12 patients had a vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane associa ted or not to a phacoemulsification. A fundus fluorescein angiography was performed after the surgery. Results In the group of patients who had a simple vitrectomy a ME was observed in 50 % of the cases preoper atively and in 25 % of the cases at the end of follow-up. In 3 cases, preoperative ME was worsened after the surgery. In the group of patien ts who were treated by a combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification, a ME was observed in 25 % of the cases preoperatively and in 50 % of t he cases at the end of follow-up. A de novo ME was observed in 3 cases . Conclusion Combined vitrectomy and cataract surgery. could allow a r apid recovery, of visual acuity but might increase the occurrence of M E.