TREATMENT OF PSEUDOPHAKIC CME

Pseudophakic cystoid macular edema is now an infrequent complication o f cataract surgery. However, since cataract surgery continues to be on e of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, the prevalence o f pseudophakic cystoid macular edema is high. In addition, although ps eudophakic cystoid macular edema has been a well-defined entity since the 1950s and 1960s, little progress has been made in understanding it s pathogenesis or in deriving an effective treatment of the condition. While acute pseudophakic cystoid macular edema may resolve spontaneou sly, chronic visually significant pseudophakic cystoid macular edema r emains difficult to treat. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and c orticosteroids in various forms can be used, but each type of treatmen t lacks satisfactory success. Eyes with abnormal vitreous or refractor y to medical therapy can be improved with vitrectomy surgery. It must be concluded, however, that there is a real need for significant advan ces in both the understanding and treatment of pseudophakic cystoid ma cular edema.