Analysis of Vitrectomy Results in Diabetic Macular Edema using Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of vitrectomy for diabetic macualr edema(DME) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: The type of macular edema, macular center thickness and state of posterior hyaloid membrane were checked using OCT in 12 eyes of 10 patients. Visual acuity was checked and the follow-up after vitrectomy was at least 4 months in all eyes. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in mean macular center thickness from preoperative 414.6 +/- 101.3 micro meter (mean +/- SD) to postoperative 223.9 +/- 73.6 micro meter (P=0.002). We performed combined cataract surgery in 10 eyes (83%). Visual acuity was improved by 2 or more lines in 8 eyes (67%), but there was no statistical relationship between the visual improvement and the amount of macular center thickness decrease. The decrease of macular center thickness was more effective in cystoid macular edema, the absence of posterior vitreous detachment and the presence of previous macular laser treatment, but there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: OCT may be helpful in quantitative analysis of the results of vitrectomy for DME.