Vitrectomy for diabetic macular heterotopia.

PURPOSE: The authors performed 15 vitrectomies for diabetic macular heterotopia, and then compared visual prognoses and postoperative complications with those of 88 macular detachments to determine the role of, and indications for, vitrectomy for diabetic macular heterotopia.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with diabetic macular heterotopia and 88 with traction macular detachment, in which the vitreous cavities were sufficiently clear for posterior poles to be observed, underwent vitrectomies. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and postoperative complications were assessed and documented retrospectively.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of eyes showing improvement in visual acuity postoperatively. However, a final postoperative visual acuity better than 20/20 was documented in 93% of patients with macular heterotopia and 48% of patients with macular detachment (P < 0.002), whereas 47% of the former and 10% of the latter had visual acuities better than 20/40 (P < 0.001). Postoperative neovascular glaucoma and retinal detachment developed in 10% and 13%, respectively, of patients with macular detachments. None of the patients with macular heterotopia experienced these complications.

CONCLUSION

Based on the above results, the authors conclude that diabetic macular heterotopia is a very good indication for early vitrectomy.