Pietro Rossi, MD (Genoa, Italy), Carlandrea Trillo, (Genova, Italy)

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the time and results of intravitreal steroids and ILM peeling in the management of diffuse diabetic macula oedema.

METHODS:

Comparative, interventional open label study. Primary endpoint: reduction in retinal thickness. Secondary endpoint: changes in visual acuity. 25 patients with diabetic diffuse macular oedema were randomly assigned to argon laser grid photocoagulation or intravitreal steroid injection followed by argon laser photocoagulation 30-40 days later, when OCT
showed a reduction in retinal volume. A third group of 10 patients underwent vitrectomy with ILM peeling.

RESULTS:

The final mean macular volume and LogMAR visual acuity were compared with initial volume and visual acuity for each group and among the three groups.

CONCLUSION:

Pre-treatment with i.v. steroids seems to allow better anatomical results after argon laser photocoagulation. Stripping of the ILM results in a rapid reduction in macular volume. Visual acuity is strickly related to the initial size of cystic spaces in the macula.