ABSTRACT
·AIM: To compare the treatment efficacy of vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane ( MEM ) peeling combined with or without air tamponade for idiopathic macular epiretinal membranes( IMEM) .·METHODS: Forty-two cases of IMEM patients ( 46 eyes ) associated with cataract were randomly divided into two groups. Twenty-five eyes of 23 cases in Group A were performed with vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane peeling combined with air tamponade. The other 21 eyes of 19 cases in Group B only underwent vitrectomy and macular epiretinal membrane peeling ( without air tamponade ) . The visual acuity and central macular thickness ( CMT ) were compared between the two groups before and after the surgery. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were also observed in both groups in the mean time.· RESULTS: There was no statistical significant difference between two groups in age, visual acuity and CMT before operation (P>0. 05). By 1wk, 3 and 6mo follow-up after operation, mean visual acuity improved significantly; mean CMT decreased obviously in both groups after the operation and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). But for mean visual acuity and CMT, there were not statistically significant difference between two groups postoperatively at the same time(P>0. 05),there was no correlation between postoperative mean visual acuity and CMT in the two groups. No serious complications occurred during and after operation.· CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane peeling can be a safe and effective treatment for IMEM, meanwhile air tamponade in vitreous cavity does not reveal more advantages in the treatment.