25-gauge vitrectomy and triamcinolone acetonide-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling for chronic cystoid macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Eye Center of Affiliated Second Hospital School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, PR China. zjhzqz@yahoo.com.cn

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of 25-gauge vitrectomy and triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for chronic cystoid macular edema (CCME) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: Thirty-four patients (38 eyes) presenting with CCME in BRVO were treated prospectively by 25-gauge vitrectomy and ILM peeling. Change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and CCME status were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, and 7 months. RESULTS: Mean postoperative logMAR BCVAs +/- SD were 0.69 +/- 0.42, 0.65 +/- 0.41, 0.59 +/- 0.32, 0.39 +/- 0.27, 0.35 +/- 0.31, 0.32 +/- 0.28, and 0.32 +/- 0.31 at the seven follow-up months, respectively. Mean foveal thicknesses +/- SD were 443 +/- 60 microm, 212 +/- 67 microm, 188 +/- 41 microm, 176 +/- 53 microm, 173 +/- 41 microm, 171 +/- 39 microm, and 170 +/- 41 microm at the 7 follow-up months, respectively. Compared with before surgery, BCVA improved, and CCME was absorbed significantly (P < 0.01, Dunnett test). Foveal thickness and logMAR BCVA 7 months after surgery had a significant negative linear correlation (r = -0.81, P < 0.01; Spearman rank correlation). CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-five-gauge vitrectomy with TA-assisted ILM peeling is generally effective in reducing macular edema and improving BCVA for CCME in BRVO for at least 7 months.

PMID: 18698296 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]