Combined cataract surgery, intraocular lens insertion, and vitrectomy in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane

To report the surgical outcomes of combined cataract surgery and pars plana vitrectomy in eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membrane. This is a retrospective review of 8 consecutive patients with concurrent cataract and idiopathic epiretinal membrane who underwent the combined procedure. At a mean follow-up of 22 months, the visual acuity improved by 2 or more Snellen lines in 7 patients (88%). Median preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acquities were 20/200 and 20/50 respectively. Simultaneous cataract surgery and vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane removal resulted in visual improvement in the majority of patients.