Peeling of Internal Limiting Membrane for Diabetic Macular Edema with Severe Hard Exudates

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of peeling of internal limiting membrane (ILM) for the treatment of diabetic macular edema with severe hard exudates. METHOD: We analyzed the records of the patients who had macular edema with severe hard exudates, underwent pars plana vitrectomy combined with indocyanine green (ICG)-assisted ILM peeling, and then were followed more than 4 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In 6 patients, 10 eyes, mean age was 60.2 years and follow-up period was 7.3 months. In all eyes, a attached posterior hyaloid was shown, and hard exudates and macular edema began to decrease within 1 week after operation. Visual acuity was less than 0.1 in 6 eyes before operation, in 3 eyes by the best visual acuity during follow-up period and in 4 eyes on the final examination, and 0.15 or better in 2 eyes, 6 eyes and 5 eyes, respectively. According to the best visual acuity, there was improvement in 8 eyes and no change in 2 eyes, and according to the final visual acuity, improvement in 6 eyes, no change in 3 eyes and deterioration in 1 eye. CONCLUSIONS: ICG-assisted ILM peeling would be helpful for the treatment of diabetic macular edema with severe hard exudates.