Vitrectomy for diffuse macular edema in cases of diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To ascertain the effects of posterior vitreous detachment for diffuse diabetic macular edema. METHODS: We performed vitrectomy on 58 eyes of 41 consecutive patients with diabetic macular edema without posterior vitreous detachment, Follow-up was done at 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In 57 of 58 eyes after vitrectomy and posterior vitreous detachment, macular edema resolved, and diffuse fluorescein leakage disappeared in 35 of 36 eyes examined at the 12th month, Visual improvement was statistically significant (P < .0001, paired t test). CONCLUSION: In eyes with diffuse diabetic macular edema and without posterior vitreous detachment, vitrectomy with posterior vitreous detachment may be effective.