Clinicopathologic results of vitreous surgery for epiretinal membranes in patients with combined retinal and retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas.

Two patients (a 44-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man) with progressive visual loss associated with macular combined retinal-retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas underwent pars plana vitrectomies with peeling of macular epiretinal membranes. Histopathologic findings for one of the membranes were similar to those in idiopathic or other secondary epiretinal membranes. Although the epiretinal membranes were satisfactorily removed, visual acuity improved in neither eye. Fluorescein angiography showed persistence of vascular tortuosity and leakage and cystoid macular edema after surgery in both cases. One eye developed a late postoperative operculated retinal tear which was successfully treated with cryopexy. The role of vitrectomy and membrane removal in cases of macular combined retinal-retinal pigment epithelial hamartomas appears to be limited.