Visual acuity and findings by optical coherence tomography after vitreous surgery for diabetic macular edema

Purpose: To report visual acuity and findings by optical coherence tomography (OCT) after vitreous surgery for diabetic macular edema (DME). Cases and Method: This retrospective study was made on 50 eyes of 38 patients who received vitreous surgery for DME in the past 3 years. The series comprised 26 male and 24 female eyes. The age averaged 63 years. OCT showed retinal swelling in 17 eyes, cystoid edema in 21 eyes, and serous retinal detachment in 12 eyes. Results: Visual acuity improved significantly in eyes with retinal swelling. Foveal thickness decreased significantly in eyes with cystoid edema or serous detachment. Visual acuity before and 12 months after surgery was positively correlated with residual rate of external limiting membrane and junction line between inner and outer photoreceptor segment. Visual acuity 12 months after surgery was significantly correlated with residual rate of external limiting membrane before surgery. Conclusion: Visual acuity in eyes with DME was correlated with residual rate of external limiting membrane and junction line between inner and outer photoreceptor segment. Vitreous surgery for DME is advocated before decrease of visual acuity, damage to external limiting membrane and impaired junction line between inner and outer photoreceptor segment.