Visual acuity and foveal thickness after vitrectomy for macular edema

The outcome of vitrectomy for macular edema was examined in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), as well as whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in vitreous fluid influence the visual prognosis and macular edema. Twenty-six consecutive patients with CRVO and macular edema underwent vitrectomy. Best-corrected visual acuity, retinal thickness, and the VEGF and IL-6 levels in vitreous fluid were measured before and after surgery. Both visual acuity and retinal thickness were significantly improved at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.0114 and p < 0.0001, respectively). The vitreous VEGF level was significantly higher in patients who showed less improvement of visual acuity (p = 0.0182). In contrast, a high vitreous VEGF level was associated with greater improvement of macular edema (p = 0.0199). These results suggest that the vitreous VEGF level may be correlated with the visual prognosis and changes of macular edema in CRVO patients after vitrectomy.