Vitrectomy Outcomes in Eyes with Tractional Diabetic Macular Edema

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Diabetic Retinopathy Management

Background:

• Tractional diabetic macular edema (tDME) is a significant cause of vision loss in diabetic patients.
• Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a surgical option for managing tDME.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with tractional diabetic macular edema (tDME).

Main Methods:

• A single-center retrospective study assessed 46 eyes of 38 patients undergoing PPV for tDME between 2013 and 2015.
• Surgical outcomes, including visual acuity and retinal thickness, were monitored over a 12-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

• At 12 months, a median decrease in central foveal thickness (CFT) of 232.7 µm was observed, with 65.2% achieving CFT < 300 µm.
• Over 60% of patients experienced a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement of ≥10 ETDRS letters, while 13% had a decrease.
• DME recurrence occurred in 10.9% of cases, and a macular hole was a rare complication (2.1%).

Conclusions:

• Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) effectively reduced retinal thickening and improved visual outcomes in a majority of patients with tDME.
• The procedure demonstrated low rates of recurrence and postoperative complications, supporting its role in managing tDME.